Compare towns
Kittery vs Rye vs Durham
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Rye | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,473 |
5,611Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Kittery 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Rye and Durham 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Rye and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Kittery 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 | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Rye School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.