Compare towns
Scarborough vs Hampton vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k 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 | Scarborough | Hampton | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,215Highest |
16,426Lowest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±2.7 25% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±2 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,558±$21kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $551,900±$39kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Scarborough and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$178Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978 92% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Scarborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Scarborough and Hampton 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 | #35 of 133 in ME | #31 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Scarborough Public Schools | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Scarborough High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
10.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.