Compare towns
Biddeford vs Old Orchard Beach 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).
Old Orchard Beach has the most affordable homes ($367k median).
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 | Old Orchard Beach | Rye | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
9,244 |
5,611Lowest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Old Orchard Beach and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% 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% |
7%±1.9 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±$4k 10% below U.S. |
$60,050±$11kLowest 26% 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 | $396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$366,600±$38kLowest 10% 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. |
$1,246±$182Lowest 12% 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. |
$3,426Lowest 10% 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% |
50.7%±15Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Saco 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% |
14.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±4.4 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 | #67 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | RSU 23 | Rye School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Old Orchard Beach High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
7.6Lowest |
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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.