Compare towns

Brunswick vs Kittery 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

Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 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.

MeasureBrunswickKitteryRye
People
Population
22,336Highest
10,473
5,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40±2.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Rye and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
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+
53.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.3%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,952±$6kLowest
7% below U.S.
$93,728±$14k
16% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% 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
$376,300±$15kLowest
13% above U.S.
$468,500±$31k
41% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$99Lowest
4% above U.S.
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% 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
$4,756
52% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Brunswick and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
11% below U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
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 #30 of 133 in ME #17 of 133 in ME #2 of 120 in NH
School district Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 Kittery Public Schools Rye School District
High school in town Brunswick High School Robert W Traip Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9Highest
9.9Lowest
—
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.