Compare towns
Saco vs Strafford vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Warren has the most people working from home (36.2%).
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 | Strafford | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,585 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
53.1±4.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
60%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$86,905±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$569,300±$123kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,750±$394Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Warren 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. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$7,284Highest 134% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.2%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Strafford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.


