Compare towns
Saco vs Upton vs Brunswick 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%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Upton | Brunswick | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
8,189Lowest |
22,336 |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
40±2.8 about the U.S. average |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Brunswick 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brunswick and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brunswick and Biddeford 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$74,952±$6k 7% below U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
| Brunswick and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,756 52% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Brunswick 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #30 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Brunswick High School | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
10.9Lowest |
14.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.