Compare towns

Kittery vs Williston vs Brattleboro 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

Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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.

MeasureKitteryWillistonBrattleboroRye
People
Population
10,473
10,144
12,122Highest
5,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
45.6±4.5
17% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
Kids under 18
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
Williston and Brattleboro 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%
21%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±3.2
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%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Kittery 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.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% 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.
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$257,300±$18kLowest
23% below U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,781±$156
26% 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.
$5,592
79% above U.S.
$5,700
83% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
24% below U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
17.9%±4Lowest
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 #11 of 70 in VT #33 of 70 in VT #2 of 120 in NH
School district Kittery Public Schools Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Rye School District
High school in town Robert W Traip Academy None in town Brattleboro Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Highest
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9.0Lowest
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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.