Compare towns
Vinalhaven vs Saco vs Fayette
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vinalhaven has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Saco has the highest household income ($92k).
Fayette has the most affordable homes ($258k 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 | Vinalhaven | Saco | Fayette |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,216Lowest |
20,819Highest |
1,383 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME |
44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average |
58.8±4.2 31% above ME |
| Vinalhaven and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Saco and Fayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
37.2%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,963±$11k about the ME average |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$59,500±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
| Saco and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,400±$44kHighest 44% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$257,600±$48kLowest 13% below ME |
| Vinalhaven and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$924 11% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$983±$816Lowest 14% below ME |
| Saco and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,598 19% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,160Lowest 4% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±41.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
46.8%±43.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Vinalhaven and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.1%±7.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Fayette and Vinalhaven 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 | Fayette Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.