Compare towns

Kittery vs Windham vs Brewer 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

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.

MeasureKitteryWindhamBrewerRye
People
Population
10,473
16,038Highest
9,652
5,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
Kids under 18
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Brewer 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%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±3.6
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
7.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brewer 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.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$66,613±$9kLowest
17% below U.S.
$140,655±$39k
74% above U.S.
Windham and Rye 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.
$723,300±$50k
117% above U.S.
$245,300±$21kLowest
26% below U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,086±$54Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,518
45% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,374Lowest
8% above U.S.
$7,519
141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
55.7%±13.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Brewer and Windham 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%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
24% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±2.8Lowest
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 #13 of 120 in NH #32 of 133 in ME #2 of 120 in NH
School district Kittery Public Schools Windham School District Brewer Public Schools Rye School District
High school in town Robert W Traip Academy Windham High School Brewer High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.9Lowest
12.8
14.0Highest
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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.