Compare towns
Saco vs Old Orchard Beach vs Scarborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has the youngest population (median age 44.9).
Old Orchard Beach has the oldest population (median age 58).
Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Old Orchard Beach | Scarborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
9,244Lowest |
23,215Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+17%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average |
58±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
48.8±2.7 9% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
6.5%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±2 ME: 18.1% |
| Saco and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
33.5%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
42.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
57.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
7%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Old Orchard Beach 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±$11k 23% above ME |
$60,050±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
$133,558±$21kHighest 79% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$366,600±$38kLowest 24% above ME |
$551,900±$39kHighest 86% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,246±$182Lowest 9% above ME |
$1,956±$178Highest 72% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 58% above ME |
$3,426Lowest 13% above ME |
$5,978Highest 97% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.7%±15 ME: 48.4% |
51.9%±13.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
68.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 3% below ME |
22 min 11% below ME |
19 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
15%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Scarborough and Saco 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 | #67 of 133 in ME | #35 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 23 | Scarborough Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Old Orchard Beach High School | Scarborough High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.6Lowest |
11.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.