Compare towns
Jackson vs Bath vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Saco has the most kids (16.7% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Bath | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897Lowest |
8,815 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest 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+ | 28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 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 | $117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 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 | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson 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 |
| School district | Jackson School District | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Morse High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| 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.