What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Saco	Ossipee
People
Population	20,819Highest	4,521Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S.	50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S.
	Ossipee 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%	19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ossipee and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ossipee and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Saco and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S.	$90,521±$22kLowest 12% above U.S.
	Saco and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S.	$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S.	$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S.
	Ossipee and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,807Highest 54% above U.S.	$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ossipee and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	33 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#38 of 133 in ME	#100 of 120 in NH
School district	Saco Public Schools	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.