Compare towns
Rye vs Saco vs South 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
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
South Windham has the most affordable homes ($314k 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 | Rye | Saco | South Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
20,819Highest |
1,212Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
36.5±13.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
3.6%±4.8Lowest 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±5.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Windham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$133,223±$21k 65% above U.S. |
| Rye and South Windham 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±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$314,300±$81kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,824±$2kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| South Windham 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. |
$2,941Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27.8Lowest 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 | 6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.5%±15.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and South Windham 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Rye School District | Saco Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.