Compare towns
Saco vs South Eliot vs Ogunquit vs Biddeford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has the most kids (16.7% under 18).
South Eliot has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
4,203 |
1,379Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% ME: +2.6% |
+4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
55.5±8 24% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
| Ogunquit and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Saco and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
32.8%±6.8 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
49.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$99,299±$9k 33% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME |
| Ogunquit and South Eliot 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±$52k 60% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$396,600±$25kLowest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$2,155±$292Highest 89% above ME |
— | $1,292±$100 13% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$4,442 46% above ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$4,401Lowest 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±29.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
| South Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1973 4 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | — | — | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | — | — | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.