Compare towns
Saco vs Salem 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Dayton has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Salem | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
44,795Highest |
2,313Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dayton and Saco 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% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$113,750±$24kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Dayton and Saco 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. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$398,200±$34kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,215±$867Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,872Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Salem | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.