Compare towns
Saco vs Gray 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%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Gray | Rye | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
8,429 |
5,611Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% 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% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gray and Rye 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% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% 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% |
5.4%±2.2 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. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Rye and Gray 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. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% 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% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest 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% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #10 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Rye School District | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Lowest |
— | 14.1Highest |
| 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.