Compare towns
Sharon vs Saco vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k 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 | Sharon | Saco | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
20,819Highest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Saco and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,489Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Barnet 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 | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Saco Public Schools | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.