Compare towns
Rye vs Waterville vs Kittery
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).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Kittery has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Waterville | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
17,077Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Kittery 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% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Kittery 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% |
30.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$53,580±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kittery 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. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$978±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kittery 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. |
$2,755Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville 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% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Kittery 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 | #105 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Waterville Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Waterville Senior High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.