What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saco has the most kids (16.7% under 18).

Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Saco	Thornton
People
Population	20,819Highest	2,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S.	51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Saco and Thornton 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%	19%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thornton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Saco and Thornton 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.	$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S.
	Saco and Thornton 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.	$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S.	$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S.
	Thornton 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.	$5,032Highest 61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thornton and Saco 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%	9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thornton and Saco 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 120 in NH
School district	Saco Public Schools	Thornton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.