Compare towns
Saco vs Bath vs Rye vs Biddeford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Saco | Bath | Rye | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
8,815 |
5,611Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2 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+ | 18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
| Rye and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bath and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Bath 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Rye School District | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Morse High School | None in town | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
— | 14.1Lowest |
| 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.