Compare towns
Sanford vs Saco vs Augusta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sanford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+125.2%).
Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k 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.
| Measure | Sanford | Saco | Augusta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,247Highest |
20,819 |
19,077Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +125.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±2.8Lowest 6% below ME |
44.9±1.5Highest about the ME average |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
| Saco and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Sanford and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±0.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,524±$7k about the ME average |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,200±$10k 6% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,152±$72 about the ME average |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
| Saco and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,708 22% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±7.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 14% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.8%±2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Augusta 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 | #100 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Sanford Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy |
| High school in town | Sanford High School | None in town | Cony |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.7Lowest |
— | 17.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.