Compare towns

Windham vs Rye vs Saco

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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.

MeasureWindhamRyeSaco
People
Population
19,188
5,611Lowest
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,934±$14k
34% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% above U.S.
Rye and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$388,900±$22kLowest
17% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,249±$385
12% 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
$3,938Lowest
26% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14Highest
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
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #95 of 133 in ME #2 of 120 in NH #38 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 14 Rye School District Saco Public Schools
High school in town Windham High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.