Compare towns
Kittery vs Rye vs Lyme
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,473Highest |
5,611 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| Rye and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Rye 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% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Lyme 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Rye and Lyme 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. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest 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% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Lyme 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 | — |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Rye School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.