Compare towns
Amherst vs Kittery 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
Amherst has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Amherst | Kittery | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
10,473 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest 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+ | 65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% 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 | $9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Rye 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Kittery Public Schools | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
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.