Compare towns
Kittery vs Naples vs Wells 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).
Naples has the most affordable homes ($340k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Naples | Wells | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473 |
3,985Lowest |
11,713Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
49.8±6.8 28% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Wells 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% |
23.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Wells 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% 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. |
$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,941±$625Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| Naples 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. |
$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,215 3% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Naples 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% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±11.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Naples 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 | #118 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Lake Region High School | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.7Highest |
11.4 |
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| 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.