Compare towns
Saco vs Upton vs Kittery 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).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Kittery | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
8,189Lowest |
10,473 |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Kittery and Upton 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% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% 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% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above 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. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% 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%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Saco 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% |
6.4% 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% |
67.2% 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. |
1965 15 yrs older 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. |
20 minLowest 24% 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% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Kittery Public Schools | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Robert W Traip Academy | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
9.9Lowest |
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.