Compare towns

Rye vs Bath vs Ellsworth

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 renters (35.7% rent).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

MeasureRyeBathEllsworth
People
Population
5,611Lowest
8,815Highest
8,657
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
45.4±3
17% above U.S.
43±2.4Lowest
11% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
15.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Ellsworth and Rye 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%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rye and Bath 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Bath and Ellsworth 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.
$77,375±$18k
4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$310,900±$30k
7% below U.S.
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,044±$116
26% below U.S.
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$3,847
23% above U.S.
$3,262Lowest
5% 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%
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
66.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
Work from home
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.8Lowest
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 #63 of 133 in ME
School district Rye School District RSU 01 - LKRSU Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town None in town Morse High School Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.8Highest
12.7Lowest
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.