Compare towns
Durham vs Kennebunk 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Kennebunk | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
11,820 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
54.6±3.3 40% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Rye 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 21 | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.