Compare towns
Washington vs Saco vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Saco has the most people working from home (19%).
Becket has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Washington | Saco | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
20,819Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Washington and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Washington and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 11% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$361,000±$82kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Saco and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Becket and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 40% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Becket 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 | Central Berkshire |
| High school 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.