Compare towns
Kittery vs Lebanon 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1965).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Lebanon | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,473 |
14,999Highest |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Kittery 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% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Lebanon 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. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Rye and Lebanon 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. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Lebanon 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% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest 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. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Lebanon School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.