Compare towns

Rye vs South Berwick vs Windham

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).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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.

MeasureRyeSouth BerwickWindham
People
Population
5,611Lowest
7,670
19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
39±2.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Windham 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%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
South Berwick and Windham 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.
$99,572±$13kLowest
23% above U.S.
$107,934±$14k
34% above U.S.
Rye and Windham 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.
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
$388,900±$22kLowest
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,726±$83
22% above U.S.
$1,232±$332Lowest
13% below 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.
$4,956
59% above U.S.
$3,938Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
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%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #2 of 120 in NH #58 of 133 in ME #95 of 133 in ME
School district Rye School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 RSU 14
High school in town None in town Marshwood High School Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.0Highest
12.1Lowest
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.