Compare towns
Bath vs Kittery 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
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Kittery has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Kittery | Rye | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
10,473Highest |
5,611 |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3Lowest 17% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% 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 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest 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%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 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+ | 42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath 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 | $69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% 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 | $310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327 21% below U.S. |
| Rye and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 23% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bath and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Kittery 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Kittery Public Schools | Rye School District | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.