Compare towns

Bath vs Saco vs Wolfeboro

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).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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.

MeasureBathSacoWolfeboro
People
Population
8,815
20,819Highest
6,571Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±3
17% above U.S.
44.9±1.5Lowest
15% above U.S.
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
Kids under 18
15.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3Lowest
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%
18.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
45%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8Lowest
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.
$92,241±$11k
14% above U.S.
$94,375±$22kHighest
17% above U.S.
Wolfeboro and Saco 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.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
$546,500±$60kHighest
64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$116Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,249±$385Highest
12% below U.S.
$1,103±$76
22% below U.S.
Saco and Wolfeboro 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.
$4,807Highest
54% above U.S.
$4,531
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.3%±15.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bath and Saco 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%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
9% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wolfeboro 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 #46 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU Saco Public Schools Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town Morse High School None in town Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
—
11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.