Compare towns
Saco vs Bath vs Biddeford vs Brunswick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Brunswick has the most kids (17.2% 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 | Saco | Bath | Biddeford | Brunswick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
8,815Lowest |
22,498Highest |
22,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
45.4±3Highest about the ME average |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
40±2.8 11% below ME |
| Bath and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brunswick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bath and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
42.5% ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
53.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2 ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
13.3%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brunswick and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$69,390±$12kLowest 7% below ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
$74,952±$6k about the ME average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$310,900±$30kLowest 5% above ME |
$396,600±$25k 34% above ME |
$376,300±$15k 27% above ME |
| Saco and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,044±$116Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
$1,469±$99Highest 29% above ME |
| Brunswick and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,847Lowest 27% above ME |
$4,401 45% above ME |
$4,756 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
51.3%±15.2 ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±8.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brunswick and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.4% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
64.3% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
71.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1952 25 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
24 minHighest about the ME average |
24 min 4% below ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±6 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Brunswick 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #31 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME | #30 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Biddeford Public Schools | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Morse High School | Biddeford High School | Brunswick High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
14.1 |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.