Compare towns
Brunswick vs Saco vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brunswick has the youngest population (median age 40).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Brunswick | Saco | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,336Highest |
20,819 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,952±$6kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% 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 | $376,300±$15kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$99 4% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,756Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Brunswick 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 | #30 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Saco Public Schools | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Brunswick High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.