Compare towns
Biddeford vs Dayton 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
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Dayton has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
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 | Biddeford | Dayton | Rye | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
2,313Lowest |
5,611 |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
42.1±5.5 8% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dayton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$113,750±$24k 41% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Rye and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$398,200±$34k 20% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,215±$867Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$3,872Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±3.9 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 | #111 of 133 in ME | — | #2 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Dayton Public Schools | Rye School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.