Compare towns
Saco vs Rye vs Dayton vs Scarborough
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 the most renters (27.2% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Dayton has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Scarborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Dayton | Scarborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819 |
5,611 |
2,313Lowest |
23,215Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
42.1±5.5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
48.8±2.7 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dayton 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Scarborough 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% |
27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$113,750±$24k 41% above U.S. |
$133,558±$21k 65% above U.S. |
| Rye and Scarborough 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. |
$398,200±$34kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$551,900±$39k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,215±$867Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,956±$178Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Scarborough and Rye 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,872Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,978 92% 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% |
38%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Scarborough 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Scarborough 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | — | #35 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Rye School District | Dayton Public Schools | Scarborough Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Scarborough High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.0 |
| 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.