Compare towns
Saco vs Sutton vs Biddeford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
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 | Sutton | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
790Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Saco 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% |
17.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Saco 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
| Saco and Biddeford 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. |
— | $1,292±$100Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Biddeford and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,975Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Sutton 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% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Biddeford 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 | — | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.1 |
| 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.