Compare towns
Bath vs Durham vs Rye vs Brewer
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.
| Measure | Bath | Durham | Rye | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
15,080Highest |
5,611Lowest |
9,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest 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. |
40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Rye 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% |
22.4%±3.6 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest 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% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12k 14% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below 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±$30k 7% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below 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. |
$1,086±$54 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% 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% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Brewer 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest 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. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Oyster River Coop School District | Rye School District | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— | 14.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.