Compare towns
Saco vs Bath vs Wolfeboro vs Biddeford
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).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Wolfeboro | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
8,815 |
6,571Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,292±$100Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Biddeford and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6 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 | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Morse High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
14.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.