What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($397k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rye	South Berwick
People
Population	5,611Highest	3,381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.	41.4±6.2Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	South Berwick and Rye 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%	15.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	47.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	South Berwick 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.	$90,972±$22kLowest 13% above U.S.
	Rye and South Berwick 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.	$396,700±$66kLowest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.	$1,702±$76Lowest 20% above U.S.
	Rye and South Berwick 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.	$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rye and South Berwick 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	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	Rye School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.