Compare towns
Gray vs Kittery vs Mapleton 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
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Gray | Kittery | Mapleton | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
10,473Highest |
1,884Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below 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 | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
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.