Compare towns
Saco vs Rye vs Biddeford vs Old Orchard Beach
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Old Orchard Beach has the most affordable homes ($367k 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 | Rye | Biddeford | Old Orchard Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
5,611Lowest |
22,498Highest |
9,244 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Old Orchard Beach and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest 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% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Rye 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
$60,050±$11kLowest 26% 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$366,600±$38kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,246±$182Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$3,426Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±15Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Old Orchard Beach 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | #111 of 133 in ME | #67 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Rye School District | Biddeford Public Schools | RSU 23 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Biddeford High School | Old Orchard Beach High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.1Highest |
7.6Lowest |
| 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.