Compare towns
Kittery vs Rye vs Wilder vs Williston
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1965).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Wilder | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473Highest |
5,611 |
3,087Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Wilder 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% 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% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Williston 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Rye and Williston 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% 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% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Rye School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 History | None yet | None yet | 6 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.