Compare towns
Bath vs Rye vs Saco vs Kittery
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Rye | Saco | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
5,611Lowest |
20,819Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest 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+ | 25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Kittery 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath and Saco 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kittery 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above 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 | $3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bath and Saco 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Rye School District | Saco Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| 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.