Compare towns
Kittery vs Topsham vs Dover vs Rye
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).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Topsham | Dover | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473 |
9,706 |
33,364Highest |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham 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% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest 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% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Topsham 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. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Dover 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. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kittery 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. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Dover School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Mt Ararat High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.2 |
12.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.