Compare towns
Rye vs Topsham vs Woolwich
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).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Woolwich has the most affordable homes ($255k 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 | Topsham | Woolwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
9,706Highest |
3,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.8±5.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Woolwich and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Rye 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% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woolwich 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% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and Woolwich 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. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$102,175±$26k 27% above U.S. |
| Rye and Woolwich 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. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$254,500±$59kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
— |
| Rye and Topsham 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. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
$2,433Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woolwich and Rye 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME | #92 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.