Compare towns

Bath vs Durham vs Rye

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureBathDurhamRye
People
Population
8,815
15,080Highest
5,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±3
17% above U.S.
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
Kids under 18
15.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Rye and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rye and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
55.1%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,390±$12kLowest
14% below U.S.
$124,056±$21k
54% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
Rye and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$310,900±$30kLowest
7% below U.S.
$504,300±$41k
52% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$116Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,429±$143
about the U.S. average
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847Lowest
23% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,519
141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.3%±15.2
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
15.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #31 of 133 in ME #9 of 120 in NH #2 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU Oyster River Coop School District Rye School District
High school in town Morse High School Oyster River High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.8Highest
12.3Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 51 photos → 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.