Compare towns
Kennebunkport 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
Kennebunkport has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
Kittery has the most affordable homes ($469k 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 | Kennebunkport | Kittery | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,684Lowest |
10,473Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.1±5Highest 52% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
| Kennebunkport and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36.9%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunkport and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,747±$30k 27% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kennebunkport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,500±$109k 123% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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 | $3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.8%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% 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 | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.6%±9.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunkport 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 | #42 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 21 | Kittery Public Schools | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.