Compare towns
Saco vs Bath vs Gray vs Old Orchard Beach
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).
Gray has the most kids (19% under 18).
Old Orchard Beach has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Gray | Old Orchard Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
8,815 |
8,429Lowest |
9,244 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
+3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
45.4±3 about the ME average |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
58±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.5%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
19%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
6.5%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gray and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.2%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
33.5%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Bath 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
42.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
7%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$69,390±$12k 7% below ME |
$95,236±$8kHighest 27% above ME |
$60,050±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
| Gray and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$310,900±$30kLowest 5% above ME |
$363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
$366,600±$38k 24% above ME |
| Saco and Old Orchard Beach 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 |
$1,371±$89Highest 20% above ME |
$1,246±$182 9% above ME |
| Gray and Saco 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 |
$3,847 27% above ME |
$3,683 21% above ME |
$3,426Lowest 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.3%±15.2 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.7%±15 ME: 48.4% |
| Gray and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
12.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
64.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
24 min about the ME average |
29 minHighest 16% above ME |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Bath and Saco 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #67 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 23 |
| High school in town | None in town | Morse High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Old Orchard Beach High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
12.5 |
7.6Lowest |
| 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.