At $1,918/mo, rent takes about 25% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,918 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Saco changed +3.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 14 Maine cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.0%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($92,241) is $2,306 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,860); a 3-bedroom is $2,460.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Saco. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Saco, ME is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 43.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Saco, ME has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $92,241 today, compared with $72,700 five years earlier. The population has grown by 3.0% since 2021, moving from about 20,203 residents to roughly 20,819. Renters now make up 27.2% of households, compared with 31.9% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 43.5% of adults here, versus 40.7% in 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Saco on your salary?
At $1,918/mo, how Saco rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Saco rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Saco. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Saco
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Saco is $1,918/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,340/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,860/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,510/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,460/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($92,241/yr), Saco ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Saco?
Is rent going up or down in Saco?
How does Saco rent compare to other cities in Maine?
At $1,918/mo, rent takes ~25% of Saco's median household income ($92,241/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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