Compare towns
Bath vs North Hampton vs Rye 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
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Bath | North Hampton | Rye | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,815 |
4,543Lowest |
5,611 |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3Lowest 17% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest 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+ | 42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bath and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #12 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | North Hampton School District | Rye School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | Morse High School | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | — | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.