Compare towns
Saco vs Bath vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
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 | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
8,815 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest 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 | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
| Lyme and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Lyme School District |
| 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.