Compare towns
Dayton vs Saco vs West Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dayton has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
West Bath has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
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 | Dayton | Saco | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,313 |
20,819Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
50.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
$92,241±$11kLowest 23% above ME |
$103,333±$27k 38% above ME |
| Dayton and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,200±$34kLowest 34% above ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
$422,800±$102kHighest 43% above ME |
| West Bath and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867 7% above ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,112±$327Lowest about the ME average |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,872 28% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,516Lowest 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.1%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and West 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.