Compare towns
Saco vs Pelham vs Dayton
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Dayton has the most affordable homes ($398k 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 | Pelham | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
14,449 |
2,313Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.1±5.5 8% above U.S. |
| Saco and Dayton 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% |
20.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest 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. |
$113,750±$24k 41% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$398,200±$34kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,215±$867Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Pelham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,872Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38%±19.6Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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 | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 4 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.