Compare towns
Strafford vs Saco vs Mendon vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Strafford | Saco | Mendon | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
20,819Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44k 7% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
| Sharon and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Saco Public Schools | — | Sharon School District |
| 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 | 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.