Compare towns
Rye vs Windham vs Saco
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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k 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 | Windham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
16,038 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Windham and Rye 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. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 141% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Windham School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.