What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Seabrook has the oldest population (median age 54).

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	Seabrook
People
Population	20,819Highest	8,427Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S.	54±1.9Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	14.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Saco and Seabrook 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%	31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Saco and Seabrook 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.	$84,349±$15kLowest 4% above U.S.
	Saco and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S.	$443,500±$40kHighest 33% above U.S.
	Seabrook and Saco 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.	$1,542±$174Highest 9% above U.S.
	Seabrook 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.	$5,785Highest 85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Seabrook 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%	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#38 of 133 in ME	#114 of 120 in NH
School district	Saco Public Schools	Seabrook School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.