Compare towns

Kittery vs Lancaster vs Ogunquit 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).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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.

MeasureKitteryLancasterOgunquitRye
People
Population
10,473Highest
8,606
1,379Lowest
5,611
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
43.1±4.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
Lancaster 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%
19.9%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Rye 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%
50.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Kittery and Ogunquit 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.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
Rye and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$468,500±$31kLowest
41% above U.S.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
Rye and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,716±$224Lowest
21% above U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
—
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
Lancaster 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.
$7,235
132% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.8%±14.9
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Rye 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%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
29 min
9% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Lancaster 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 #145 of 282 in MA — #2 of 120 in NH
School district Kittery Public Schools Nashoba — Rye School District
High school in town Robert W Traip Academy None in town — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9
— — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.