Compare towns

Rye vs Bath vs Eliot

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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.

MeasureRyeBathEliot
People
Population
5,611Lowest
8,815Highest
7,146
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
45.4±3Lowest
17% above U.S.
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bath and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$69,390±$12kLowest
14% below U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$310,900±$30kLowest
7% below U.S.
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
$1,044±$116Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
Eliot and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$3,847Lowest
23% above U.S.
$4,549
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.3%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.3%±15.2
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
Work from home
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye and Bath 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 #2 of 120 in NH #31 of 133 in ME #19 of 133 in ME
School district Rye School District RSU 01 - LKRSU RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town None in town Morse High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.8
—
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.