Compare towns
Kittery vs Bath vs Rye vs South Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kittery has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Kittery | Bath | Rye | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473Highest |
8,815 |
5,611 |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
45.4±3Lowest 17% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
| Rye and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,518 45% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,442 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #31 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Rye School District | — |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Morse High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.