What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k median).

Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).

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	Pelham
People
Population	20,819Highest	14,449Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3% U.S.: +7.4%	+10.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S.	41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Saco and Pelham 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%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Saco and Pelham 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%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pelham 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.	$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S.	$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S.	$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average
	Pelham 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.	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pelham and Saco 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%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pelham 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	#48 of 120 in NH
School district	Saco Public Schools	Pelham School District
High school in town	None in town	Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.4
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.