Compare towns
Kittery vs Ellsworth vs Topsham 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).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Ellsworth | Topsham | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473Highest |
8,657 |
9,706 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Ellsworth 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% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest 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% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ellsworth and Topsham 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. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kittery 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. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% 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 | $4,518 45% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Rye 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest 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 | #63 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Ellsworth High School | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
12.2 |
— |
| 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.