What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

Sanford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+125.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rye	Sanford
People
Population	5,611Lowest	22,247Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+125.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.	42.1±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sanford and Rye 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%	20.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sanford and Rye 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.	$72,524±$7kLowest 10% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.	$280,200±$10kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.	$1,152±$72Lowest 18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.	$3,708Lowest 19% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sanford and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#2 of 120 in NH	#100 of 133 in ME
School district	Rye School District	Sanford Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	Sanford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	17.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.