Compare towns
Kittery vs Rye vs Exeter vs Saco
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k 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 | Rye | Exeter | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473 |
5,611Lowest |
16,151 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest 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% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Rye and Exeter 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Rye 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% 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% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Saco 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.