Compare towns
Rye vs Kennebunk 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 ($488k median).
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 | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
11,820Highest |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Lowest 40% 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%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest 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% |
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% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kennebunk 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±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% 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. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 411% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 141% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$8,509Highest 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 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% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 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. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.1%±19.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Castle and Kennebunk 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 | RSU 21 | New Castle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.