Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Exeter 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
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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.
| Measure | Ellsworth | Exeter | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657 |
16,151Highest |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Exeter 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 | #63 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.