Compare towns

Rye vs Bath vs Gray vs New Castle

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has the most renters (35.7% rent).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k 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.

MeasureRyeBathGrayNew Castle
People
Population
5,611
8,815Highest
8,429
827Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
45.4±3
17% above U.S.
43.4±4.5Lowest
12% above U.S.
62.8±6Highest
61% above U.S.
New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
15.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
19%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.9%±7.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Gray and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.7%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
44.3%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
61.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bath and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,655±$39k
74% above U.S.
$69,390±$12kLowest
14% below U.S.
$95,236±$8k
18% above U.S.
$176,953±$29kHighest
119% above U.S.
New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,028,100±$89k
209% above U.S.
$310,900±$30kLowest
7% below U.S.
$363,700±$20k
9% above U.S.
$1,701,300±$267kHighest
411% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
$1,044±$116Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,371±$89
about the U.S. average
$3,501Highest
148% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,519
141% above U.S.
$3,847
23% above U.S.
$3,683Lowest
18% above U.S.
$8,509Highest
173% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
51.3%±15.2
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±24Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±85.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Gray 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%
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
93%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
Work from home
30.9%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
40.1%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
New Castle and Rye 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 #10 of 133 in ME —
School district Rye School District RSU 01 - LKRSU RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences New Castle School District
High school in town None in town Morse High School Gray-New Gloucester High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.8Highest
12.5Lowest
—
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.