Compare towns
Rye vs Kennebunk vs Ogunquit 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
Rye has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Kennebunk has the most affordable homes ($453k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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.
| Measure | Rye | Kennebunk | Ogunquit | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
6,221Highest |
1,379 |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
54.3±7.2Lowest 40% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
62.8±6Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Kennebunk 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% |
30.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Castle and Ogunquit 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% |
52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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. |
$95,169±$21kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% 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. |
$452,800±$17kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 411% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,466±$261Lowest 4% above U.S. |
— | $3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 141% above U.S. |
$4,771 53% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,509Highest 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±85.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Kennebunk 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.1%±19.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and New Castle 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Rye School District | — | — | New Castle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.