Compare towns
Eliot vs Ellsworth vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Eliot | Ellsworth | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
8,657 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.5% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 13% above ME |
43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
| Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Ellsworth and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Eliot and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 36% above ME |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
| Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 68% above ME |
$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
$413,100±$17k 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
| Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 50% above ME |
$3,262Lowest 7% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 9% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
24 min 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Ellsworth Public Schools | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.