Compare towns
Saco vs York vs Ellsworth
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%).
York has the most expensive homes ($636k median).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | York | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
13,986 |
8,657Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
49.5±5.2Highest 10% above ME |
43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
| York and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.1%±3.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| York and Ellsworth 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% |
27.9%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| York and Ellsworth 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% |
53.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth 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 23% above ME |
$121,250±$25kHighest 62% above ME |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME |
| York 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 39% above ME |
$636,400±$30kHighest 115% above ME |
$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,490±$336Highest 31% above ME |
$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
| York 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 |
$4,658 53% above ME |
$3,262Lowest 7% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.5%±10.8 ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and York 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
26%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| York 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 | #13 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | York Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | York High School | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.