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Living in
Saco.
About
Life in Saco
Living in Saco means you're getting a genuinely balanced small-city experience in southern Maine, with real job options and reasonable housing costs compared to much of New England. The economy here isn't built on tourism alone—it's anchored by General Dynamics Armament Systems, a major defense contractor that provides stable employment, plus proximity to the Portland metropolitan area means commutes to better-paying jobs are manageable at around 24-25 minutes. The median household income sits at $92,241 and unemployment is low at 2.7%, which tells you the local job market is actually functional, though if you work in specialized fields you might still need to look toward Portland.
Saco at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.4%
Foreign-Born
7.7%
Broadband Internet
93.9%
of households
Population Growth
+3.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.7% foreign-born, most often from Afghanistan
Who lives in Saco: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Saco, the largest foreign-born group is from Afghanistan (21.4%), and 2.6% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
16.7%
of residents
65 and Older
18.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.8%
of households
Married Couples
50.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.28
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Living
Rent, home values, and income in Saco
In Saco, home values are 39% above the ME average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,807
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
72.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1982
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $521,694 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below ME average
Unemployment in Saco
Unemployment in Saco is 0.7 percentage points lower than the ME average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Saco Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.8 min avg
How Saco residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Saco, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Portland International Jetport (PWM)
Small hub1.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 84 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 90% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Saco runs 90% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
33
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,017.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Saco Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
81.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
York County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In York County, which includes Saco, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2024 | 16 | Winter Storm | $45.4M |
| 2023 | 12 | Winter Storm | $10,000 |
| 2022 | 19 | Winter Storm | $15.5M |
| 2021 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2.2M |
| 2020 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $322,000 |
| 2019 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $335,000 |
| 2018 | 18 | Heavy Snow | $3.2M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
York County, county-wide
Air Quality34 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in York County, which includes Saco, is typically good — 353 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
34
Good Days
353
per year
Moderate Days
9
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
York County, county-wide
Climate77°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Saco has mild summers (avg high 77°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
53°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
77°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.7"
Annual Snowfall
68.7"
Hot Days/Year
5
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
144
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
131
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 16°F | 3.50" |
| Feb | 35°F | 17°F | 3.54" |
| Mar | 42°F | 26°F | 4.08" |
| Apr | 54°F | 35°F | 4.41" |
| May | 64°F | 46°F | 3.67" |
| Jun | 74°F | 55°F | 4.15" |
| Jul | 80°F | 61°F | 3.43" |
| Aug | 79°F | 60°F | 3.57" |
| Sep | 71°F | 52°F | 3.77" |
| Oct | 60°F | 41°F | 5.25" |
| Nov | 48°F | 32°F | 4.25" |
| Dec | 38°F | 22°F | 4.50" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Saco
Uninsured
3.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Saco's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mainehealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor
Psychiatric · ER available · 10 mi away · Westbrook
Mainehealth Maine Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.8 mi away · Portland
Northern Light Mercy Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.1 mi away · Portland
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Saco
Saco's student/teacher ratio is 11.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 43.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
43.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Saco (within 15 miles)
Southern Maine Community College
13.1 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 5,675 students · in-state tuition $4,156 · 28% graduate · median earnings $48,636 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 4,222 students · in-state tuition $12,630 · 53% graduate · median earnings $57,989 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,135 students · in-state tuition $45,900 · 64% graduate · median earnings $68,670 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 415 students · in-state tuition $44,358 · 52% graduate · median earnings $38,062 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Frances Perkins National Monument, 55 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Saco
Saco has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Frances Perkins National Monument (55 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Frances Perkins National Monument
National Monument
55 mi awaySalem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
73 mi awayLowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
75 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
78 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
86 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
86 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
87 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in Saco
Dyer Library
371 Main Street, Saco
Cities Near Saco
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Saco?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Saco FAQ
Is Saco, Maine safe?⌄
Saco's violent crime rate was 33 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1018 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Saco, Maine?⌄
Saco has an unemployment rate of 2.7%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
How is the commute in Saco, Maine?⌄
The average commute in Saco is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from