Compare towns
Saco vs Sutton vs Waterville
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 homeowners (85%).
Waterville 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 | Sutton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
790 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Sutton 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville 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±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Saco and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
— | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Saco and Waterville 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. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Waterville 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Sutton 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 | — | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.