Compare towns
Bethel vs Naples 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
Bethel has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Naples has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Bethel | Naples | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,617Lowest |
3,985 |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.2±6.4 29% above U.S. |
49.8±6.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.3%±6.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$23kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$78,188±$13k 3% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $344,900±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $864±$43Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,941±$625Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| Naples and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,835 9% below U.S. |
$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.3%±15.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Naples and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.7%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±11.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Bethel 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 | #49 of 133 in ME | #118 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 44/MSAD 44 | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Telstar High School | Lake Region High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.