Compare towns
Biddeford vs Rye vs Saco vs Windham
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Windham has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Rye | Saco | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
5,611Lowest |
20,819 |
19,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Rye and Windham 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 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 | #95 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Rye School District | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
— | — | 12.1Lowest |
| 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.