Compare towns

Saco vs York vs Brewer

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
York has the most expensive homes ($636k median).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.

MeasureSacoYorkBrewer
People
Population
20,819Highest
13,986
9,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+9.5%
ME: +2.6%
+2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
44.9±1.5
about the ME average
49.5±5.2Highest
10% above ME
40.1±4.8Lowest
10% below ME
York 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
ME: 18.1%
21.1%±3.3Highest
ME: 18.1%
20.9%±4.3
ME: 18.1%
York and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±2.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
27.9%±3.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
22.4%±3.6
ME: 22.4%
York and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.5%
ME: 36.2%
53.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
35%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±1.2
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
7.7%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
Brewer 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
23% above ME
$121,250±$25kHighest
62% above ME
$66,613±$9kLowest
11% below ME
York and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$413,100±$17k
39% above ME
$636,400±$30kHighest
115% above ME
$245,300±$21kLowest
17% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,249±$385
10% above ME
$1,490±$336Highest
31% above ME
$1,086±$54Lowest
5% below ME
York and Saco 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
$4,658
53% above ME
$3,374Lowest
11% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.3%±14Lowest
ME: 48.4%
56.5%±10.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
55.7%±13.3
ME: 48.4%
York and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.4%
ME: 10.7%
5.8%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
12.5%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
ME: 74.3%
81.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
59.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
5 yrs newer than ME
1977
same as ME
1959Lowest
18 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
3% below ME
24 min
4% below ME
17 minLowest
31% below ME
Work from home
19%±3.6
ME: 15.9%
26%±3.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
6.9%±2.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
York 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 #13 of 133 in ME #32 of 133 in ME
School district Saco Public Schools York Public Schools Brewer Public Schools
High school in town None in town York High School Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.6Lowest
14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.