Compare towns

Seabrook vs Ellsworth vs Rye

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).

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.

MeasureSeabrookEllsworthRye
People
Population
8,427
8,657Highest
5,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54±1.9
39% above U.S.
43±2.4Lowest
11% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
Rye and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.8%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
Ellsworth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.5%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rye and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ellsworth and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,349±$15k
4% above U.S.
$77,375±$18kLowest
4% below U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$443,500±$40k
33% above U.S.
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,542±$174
9% above U.S.
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
Rye and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,785
85% above U.S.
$3,262Lowest
5% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.4%±10
U.S.: 51.1%
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
66.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #114 of 120 in NH #63 of 133 in ME #2 of 120 in NH
School district Seabrook School District Ellsworth Public Schools Rye School District
High school in town None in town Ellsworth High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7
—
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.