Compare towns
Saco vs Ellsworth vs Rye
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%).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Saco | Ellsworth | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
8,657 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above 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. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Rye and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.