Compare towns
Bath vs Hampton vs Kittery vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Bath | Hampton | Kittery | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815Lowest |
16,426 |
10,473 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Kittery and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery and Hampton 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #31 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Kittery Public Schools | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Winnacunnet High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
10.1 |
9.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.