Compare towns
New Castle 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
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Rye has the most kids (18.2% 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 | New Castle | Saco | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 827Lowest |
20,819Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.8±6Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest 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+ | 44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $176,953±$29kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,701,300±$267kHighest 411% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89k 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,509Highest 173% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±85.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 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 | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.1%±19.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Castle and Rye 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | New Castle School District | Saco Public Schools | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.