Compare towns
Kittery vs Berlin 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
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Kittery | Berlin | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,473Highest |
3,378Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest 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+ | 26.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Rye 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Berlin-Boylston | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.