What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

Walpole has the most kids (22.2% 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.

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

Measure	Saco	Walpole
People
Population	20,819Highest	3,690Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S.	46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S.
	Walpole and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Walpole 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%	25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Walpole 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%	32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Saco and Walpole 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.	$82,617±$16kLowest about the U.S. average
	Saco and Walpole 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.	$319,800±$48kLowest 4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S.	$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S.
	Saco and Walpole 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.	$6,078Highest 95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Walpole 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%	11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#38 of 133 in ME	#27 of 120 in NH
School district	Saco Public Schools	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.