Compare towns
Kittery vs Ogunquit vs Rye vs Salem
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Rye has the highest household income ($141k).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Rye | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473 |
1,379Lowest |
5,611 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Salem 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
— | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Salem 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | — | Rye School District | Salem |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | — | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | — | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.