Compare towns
Bath vs Rye vs Biddeford vs Woolwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Woolwich has the most affordable homes ($255k 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 | Bath | Rye | Biddeford | Woolwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
5,611 |
22,498Highest |
3,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
55.8±5.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Woolwich and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
15%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woolwich and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
$102,175±$26k 27% above U.S. |
| Rye and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30k 7% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$254,500±$59kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$2,433Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woolwich and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | #111 of 133 in ME | #92 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Rye School District | Biddeford Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | Morse High School | None in town | Biddeford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 14.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.