Compare towns
Kennebunkport vs Rye vs Biddeford
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Biddeford has the most affordable homes ($397k 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 | Rye | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,684Lowest |
5,611 |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.1±5Highest 52% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below 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% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Biddeford 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% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,747±$30k 27% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rye and Kennebunkport 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.8%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Biddeford 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.6%±9.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 21 | Rye School District | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.