Compare towns

Dedham vs Kittery vs Rye vs Dedham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kittery has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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.

MeasureDedhamKitteryRyeDedham
People
Population
25,237Highest
10,473
5,611Lowest
25,237Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6Lowest
15% above U.S.
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
44.6±1.6Lowest
15% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.9%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2Lowest
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+
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$128,955±$10k
60% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$128,955±$10k
60% above U.S.
Rye and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,800±$16k
99% above U.S.
$468,500±$31kLowest
41% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$661,800±$16k
99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,716±$224Lowest
21% above U.S.
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
$7,519
141% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Lowest
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 #119 of 282 in MA #17 of 133 in ME #2 of 120 in NH #119 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham Kittery Public Schools Rye School District —
High school in town Dedham High Robert W Traip Academy None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Highest
9.9Lowest
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.