Compare towns
Newfields vs Saco vs Rye vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Newfields | Saco | Rye | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
20,819Highest |
5,611 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Newfields 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 | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Saco Public Schools | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.



