Compare towns
Rye vs Kennebunk vs Conway
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).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k 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 | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
11,820Highest |
10,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Lowest 40% above U.S. |
55±4.1 41% above U.S. |
| Rye and Conway 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% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
12.4%±2.4Lowest 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%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Conway 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Conway 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±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rye and Kennebunk 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. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$314,000±$43kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,095±$141Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rye and Kennebunk 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. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$4,087Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Conway and Rye 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #76 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | RSU 21 | Conway School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | Kennett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.