Compare towns
Saco vs Putnam vs Old Orchard Beach
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 highest household income ($92k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Old Orchard Beach has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Putnam | Old Orchard Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
9,292 |
9,244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$60,050±$11kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$366,600±$38k 10% above U.S. |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,246±$182 12% below U.S. |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach 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. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,426Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±15Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Old Orchard Beach 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #67 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Putnam School District | RSU 23 |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Old Orchard Beach High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
7.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 12 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.