Compare towns
Kittery vs Middlesex vs Rye vs Bath
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k 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 | Middlesex | Rye | Bath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473Highest |
1,943Lowest |
5,611 |
8,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rye and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bath 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Middlesex 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | #31 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rye School District | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | None in town | Morse High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | — | 14.8Highest |
| 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.