Compare towns
Saco vs Rye vs Lyme
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).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
5,611 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| Rye and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Lyme 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest 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% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and Lyme 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. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Rye and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Lyme 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 | — |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Rye School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.