Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Rye vs Saco vs Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Bath has the most renters (35.7% rent).
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 | Ellsworth | Rye | Saco | Bath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657 |
5,611Lowest |
20,819Highest |
8,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rye and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$310,900±$30k 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,044±$116 26% below U.S. |
| Rye and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,847 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2 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 | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #63 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME | #31 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Rye School District | Saco Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | None in town | Morse High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
— | — | 14.8Highest |
| 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.