Compare towns

South Eliot vs Saco

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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.

MeasureSouth EliotSaco
People
Population
4,203Lowest
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+10.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
55.5±8Highest
24% above ME
44.9±1.5Lowest
about the ME average
Kids under 18
15.2%±4.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
16.7%±2.5Highest
ME: 18.1%
Saco and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
32.8%±6.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
18.5%±2.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
43.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.2%±1.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,299±$9kHighest
33% above ME
$92,241±$11kLowest
23% above ME
South Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$475,600±$52kHighest
60% above ME
$413,100±$17kLowest
39% above ME
South Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,155±$292Highest
89% above ME
$1,249±$385Lowest
10% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,442Lowest
46% above ME
$4,807Highest
58% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.3%±29.1Highest
ME: 48.4%
50.3%±14Lowest
ME: 48.4%
South Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
6.4%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
72.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
4 yrs older than ME
1982Highest
5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
16% below ME
24 minHighest
3% below ME
Work from home
14.2%±4.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
19%±3.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
Saco and South Eliot 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 — Saco Public Schools
High school in town — None in town
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.