Compare towns

Kittery vs Dover vs Rye vs York

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).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
York has the most kids (21.1% under 18).

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.

MeasureKitteryDoverRyeYork
People
Population
10,473
33,364Highest
5,611Lowest
13,986
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
49.5±5.2
27% above U.S.
Rye and York 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%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
York and Rye 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%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.9%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Rye and York 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%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover 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±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$121,250±$25k
50% above U.S.
Rye and York 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.
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$636,400±$30k
91% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,490±$336Lowest
5% 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
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$7,519
141% above U.S.
$4,658
49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
56.5%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
York and Dover 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%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
24 min
11% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
26%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye and York 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 #64 of 120 in NH #2 of 120 in NH #13 of 133 in ME
School district Kittery Public Schools Dover School District Rye School District York Public Schools
High school in town Robert W Traip Academy Dover Senior High School None in town York High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9
12.7Highest
—
9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.