Compare towns
Durham vs Kittery vs North Hampton 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Kittery has the most affordable homes ($469k median).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Kittery | North Hampton | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
10,473 |
4,543Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% 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 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 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+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±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+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% 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 | $498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #12 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Kittery Public Schools | North Hampton School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | — | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.