Compare towns
Kittery vs Durham vs Rye vs Bath
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Rye | Bath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473 |
15,080Highest |
5,611Lowest |
8,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Kittery 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rye and Durham 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. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below 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 | $4,518 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #31 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Oyster River Coop School District | Rye School District | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Oyster River High School | None in town | Morse High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.3 |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.