Compare towns
Saco vs Bath vs Hampden
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 renters (35.7% rent).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% 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 | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
8,815 |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
45.4±3Highest about the ME average |
41±2.9Lowest 8% 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% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
42.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Bath and Hampden 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±$12kLowest 7% below ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden 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±$30k 5% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,044±$116Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
| Hampden 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 |
$3,694Lowest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
51.3%±15.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Bath and Saco 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
64.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 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 |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±6 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | None in town | Morse High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
14.8 |
| 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.