Compare towns

Kittery vs Needham 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 most affordable homes ($469k median).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureKitteryNeedhamOgunquitRye
People
Population
10,473
32,459Highest
1,379Lowest
5,611
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%
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±1.6Lowest
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%
27.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
26.9%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±1.7Lowest
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%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Needham 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.
$214,308±$13kHighest
165% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$140,655±$39k
74% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$468,500±$31kLowest
41% above U.S.
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
257% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89k
209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,716±$224Lowest
21% above U.S.
$2,409±$183Highest
70% above U.S.
—
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,518
45% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$7,519
141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.8%±14.9
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Needham 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%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%
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.
1965Lowest
15 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.
28 min
5% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
32.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Needham 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 #19 of 282 in MA — #2 of 120 in NH
School district Kittery Public Schools Needham — Rye School District
High school in town Robert W Traip Academy Needham High — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
11.9Highest
— —
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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.