The Town FilesSaco, Maine
City in York County · population 20,381 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $413,100
- Household income
- $92,241
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 65 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 44.9
Saco is a city of 20,381 people in York County, Maine. The median home is worth $413,100, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Maine towns, more vibrant than 93% of Maine towns, better for young professionals than 91% of Maine towns.
How Saco ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Saco is worth $413,100, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $92,241, which is more affordable than 20% of Maine towns. Median rent is $1,249 a month. 72.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Saco | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $413,100 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $1,249 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $92,241 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 72.8% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.2% | — |
Who lives in Saco
| People | Saco | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.5% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.7% | — |
| Work from home | 19.0% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.9% | 90.0% |
Weather in Saco
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.9 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Saco since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 22, 1974 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 22, 1974.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 2, 1990.
Severe weather in York County since 1996
York County has been included in 42 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4785: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4764: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| March 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4696: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 15, 2022 | Coastal Storm | DR-4647: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in York County
York County had 79,378 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,811 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Saco itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Saco
5 public schools with 1,924 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| C K Burns School | 3-5 | 609 | 13.0 |
| Saco Middle School | 6-8 | 586 | 10.3 |
| Young School | K-2 | 313 | 12.0 |
| Governor John Fairfield School | K-2 | 289 | 11.1 |
| Saco Pre-K | PK-PK | 127 | 14.1 |
Towns near Saco
- Old Orchard Beach, ME3.2 mi · 8,960 people · home $366,600
- Scarborough, ME5.2 mi · 22,135 people · home $551,900
- Oak Hill, ME6.2 mi · 5,846 people · home $429,100
- Biddeford, ME6.3 mi · 22,552 people · home $396,600
- Arundel, ME8.2 mi · 4,264 people · home $421,300
- Buxton, ME9.6 mi · 8,376 people · home $356,800
- South Portland, ME9.8 mi · 26,498 people · home $441,200
- Kennebunkport, ME11.2 mi · 3,629 people · home $740,500
Saco questions
Is Saco, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Saco scores better for retirees than 24% of Maine towns and quieter than 9%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.9).
How much does a house cost in Saco?
The median owner-occupied home in Saco is valued at $413,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,241, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,249 a month.
What is the weather like in Saco?
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 64.9 inches of snow.
Does Saco get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Saco since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 22, 1974. The typical Maine town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)