Compare towns
Kittery vs Exeter vs Rye vs Ellsworth
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Exeter | Rye | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473 |
16,151Highest |
5,611Lowest |
8,657 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Ellsworth 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rye and Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Rye 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest 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. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rye School District | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Exeter High School | None in town | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.1 |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.