Compare towns
Saco vs Mont Vernon vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Saco | Mont Vernon | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
2,636Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
42.9±2.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mont Vernon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$158,036±$19kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$526,300±$39kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,104±$185Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$9,432Highest 202% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±80.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mont Vernon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #4 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Mont Vernon School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.