Compare towns
Saco vs Upton vs Old Orchard Beach
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).
Old Orchard Beach has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Old Orchard Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
8,189Lowest |
9,244 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest 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%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%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% |
7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Old Orchard Beach 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±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$60,050±$11kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$366,600±$38kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,246±$182 12% below U.S. |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach 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. |
$3,426Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±15 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Old Orchard Beach 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% |
14.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #67 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 23 |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Old Orchard Beach High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
7.6Lowest |
| 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.