Compare towns
Saco vs Rye vs Kittery vs Topsham
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).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Kittery | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
5,611Lowest |
10,473 |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
50% 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% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Topsham 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kittery 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. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Rye and Kittery 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. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Rye 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Rye School District | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.