Compare towns
Ellsworth 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
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Ellsworth | Saco | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657 |
20,819Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
54.2±5.6Highest 21% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 22.1%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| West 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+ | 39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5% ME: 36.2% |
50.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest 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 | $77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME |
$92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$103,333±$27kHighest 38% above ME |
| West Bath 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 18% below 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 | $1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,112±$327 about the ME average |
| Saco and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262Lowest 7% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,516 16% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest about the ME average |
24 min 3% below ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest 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 | #63 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | 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.