Compare towns
Saco vs Mont Vernon vs Lyme
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Mont Vernon has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
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 | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
2,636 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
42.9±2.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mont Vernon and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mont Vernon and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$158,036±$19kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Mont Vernon and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$526,300±$39k 58% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,104±$185Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
| Lyme 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. |
$9,432 202% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.6%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Mont Vernon 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 | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Mont Vernon School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.