Compare towns
Kittery vs Needham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Rye has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
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 | Needham | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,473 |
32,459Highest |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%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. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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% |
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% |
81.9%Highest 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% |
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. |
$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. |
$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 | $4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest 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%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% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Rye 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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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.