Compare towns
Rye vs Eliot vs West Bath
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).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
West Bath has the most affordable homes ($423k 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.
| Measure | Rye | Eliot | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
7,146Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Lowest 31% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6 39% above U.S. |
| Rye and West Bath 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest 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% |
27.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and West 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West 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. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
| Rye and West Bath 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. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below 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. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Rye School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.