What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belfast has the most affordable homes ($341k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belfast	Rye
People
Population	6,986Highest	5,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.6±3.1Highest 56% above U.S.	55.1±3Lowest 42% above U.S.
	Belfast and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rye and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.1%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Belfast and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rye and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,679±$9kLowest 16% below U.S.	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$34kLowest about the U.S. average	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$962±$92Lowest 32% below U.S.	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,145Lowest 33% above U.S.	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±14.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Belfast and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 19% below U.S.	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	12%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#84 of 133 in ME	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 71	Rye School District
High school in town	Belfast Area High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.