What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Waterville has the most affordable homes ($185k median).

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	Waterville
People
Population	20,819Highest	17,077Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	+0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average	35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME
Kids under 18	16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1%	14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Saco and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4%	18.3%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Saco and Waterville 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 ME: 36.2%	30.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME	$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME	$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME	$978±$72Lowest 14% below ME
	Saco and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,807Highest 58% above ME	$2,755Lowest 9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±14Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Waterville 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 ME: 10.7%	20.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 3% below ME	18 minLowest 27% below ME
Work from home	19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9%	16.6%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Saco and Waterville 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	#105 of 133 in ME
School district	Saco Public Schools	Waterville Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	Waterville Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.