Compare towns
Bangor vs Biddeford vs Rye vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bangor has the most affordable homes ($220k median).
Biddeford has the youngest population (median age 35).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Bangor | Biddeford | Rye | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,938Highest |
22,498 |
5,611Lowest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±1.3 5% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Biddeford and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,942±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Rye and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,600±$10kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$43Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,076Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bangor and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | Biddeford Public Schools | Rye School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Bangor High School | Biddeford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Lowest |
14.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.