Compare towns

Stratham vs Saco vs Bath

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k 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.

MeasureStrathamSacoBath
People
Population
7,754Lowest
20,819Highest
8,815
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±4.9Lowest
7% above U.S.
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
45.4±3Highest
17% above U.S.
Bath and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
15.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bath and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±2Highest
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
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
$92,241±$11k
14% above U.S.
$69,390±$12kLowest
14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
$310,900±$30kLowest
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
$1,044±$116Lowest
26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
$3,847Lowest
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.3%±15.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham 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 #43 of 120 in NH #38 of 133 in ME #31 of 133 in ME
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Saco Public Schools RSU 01 - LKRSU
High school in town None in town None in town Morse High School
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.