Compare towns
Bath vs South Eliot 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).
South Eliot has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | South Eliot | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815Highest |
4,203Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3Lowest 17% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Rye 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% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest 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%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Rye 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% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath and Rye 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. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and South Eliot 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. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Rye 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. |
$4,442 42% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Bath 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% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Bath 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 |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | — | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Morse High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.