Compare towns
Saco vs Rye vs West Bath
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).
West Bath 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 | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
5,611 |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6 39% above U.S. |
| Rye and West Bath 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% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest 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%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and West Bath 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% |
50.7% 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% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco and West Bath 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. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
| Rye and West Bath 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. |
$422,800±$102k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rye and Saco 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. |
$3,516Lowest 13% 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% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | West Bath Public Schools |
| 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.