Compare towns
Kittery vs Eliot vs Rye vs Saco
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Eliot | Rye | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473 |
7,146 |
5,611Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rye and Eliot 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Saco 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% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Eliot 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% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco 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. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Rye and 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. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Eliot 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. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Saco 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Rye School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | 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 | 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.