Compare towns

Wolfeboro 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

Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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.

MeasureWolfeboroRyeSaco
People
Population
6,571
5,611Lowest
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
44.9±1.5Lowest
15% above U.S.
Wolfeboro and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.7%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5
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+
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wolfeboro and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Saco and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,375±$22k
17% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% above U.S.
Rye and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$546,500±$60k
64% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$413,100±$17kLowest
24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,103±$76Lowest
22% 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
$4,531Lowest
45% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
12%±11.6Lowest
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
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
22.9%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye and Wolfeboro 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 #46 of 120 in NH #2 of 120 in NH #38 of 133 in ME
School district Governor Wentworth Regional School District Rye School District Saco Public Schools
High school in town Kingswood Regional High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
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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.