Compare towns
Rye vs Saco vs Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Rye | Saco | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
20,819Highest |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
| Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Saco Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| 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.