Compare towns
Saco vs Standish vs Dayton
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%).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Dayton has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Standish | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
10,662 |
2,313Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME |
42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Saco and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36% ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME |
$104,593±$15k 40% above ME |
$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
| Dayton and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$336,000±$18kLowest 13% above ME |
$398,200±$34k 34% above ME |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$983±$453Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,215±$867 7% above ME |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,005Lowest about the ME average |
$3,872 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Standish 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% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Dayton 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 | #18 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.