Compare towns
Saco vs South Eliot vs Gray
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Gray has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | South Eliot | Gray |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
4,203Lowest |
8,429 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
55.5±8Highest 24% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Gray 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 ME: 22.4% |
32.8%±6.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Gray 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 23% above ME |
$99,299±$9kHighest 33% above ME |
$95,236±$8k 27% above ME |
| South Eliot and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$475,600±$52kHighest 60% above ME |
$363,700±$20kLowest 23% above ME |
| South Eliot 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 10% above ME |
$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
$1,371±$89 20% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$4,442 46% above ME |
$3,683Lowest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Lowest ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24 ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
29 minHighest 16% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and South Eliot 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Gray-New Gloucester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.