What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salisbury has the most homeowners (96.9%).

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	Salisbury
People
Population	20,819Highest	1,609Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S.	51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Salisbury 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%	24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S.	$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Salisbury 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±$17kHighest 24% above U.S.	$363,400±$47kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Saco and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S.	$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S.
	Salisbury 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.	$5,859Highest 88% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Saco and Salisbury 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%	7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury 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	—
School district	Saco Public Schools	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.