Compare towns

Bath vs Newfields vs Saco vs Ellsworth

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 renters (35.7% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).

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.

MeasureBathNewfieldsSacoEllsworth
People
Population
8,815
2,023Lowest
20,819Highest
8,657
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±3Highest
17% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
43±2.4Lowest
11% above U.S.
Bath and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
18.4%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Newfields and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bath and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Bath 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.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$92,241±$11k
14% above U.S.
$77,375±$18k
4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$310,900±$30k
7% below U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$116
26% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
Newfields and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847
23% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
$3,262Lowest
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.3%±15.2
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth 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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
66.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields and Bath 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 — #38 of 133 in ME #63 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU Newfields School District Saco Public Schools Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town Morse High School None in town None in town Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
— —
12.7Lowest
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.