Compare towns

Epsom 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

Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
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.

MeasureEpsomKitteryRye
People
Population
4,939Lowest
10,473Highest
5,611
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.1±3.4
21% above U.S.
46.8±2.3Lowest
20% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.2%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
20.7%±3.3Lowest
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+
40.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Epsom and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,941±$13k
21% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
Rye and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$338,400±$19kLowest
about the U.S. average
$468,500±$31k
41% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,212±$437Lowest
14% below 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
$6,210
99% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
71.2%±19.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Epsom and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
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 #69 of 120 in NH #17 of 133 in ME #2 of 120 in NH
School district Epsom School District Kittery Public Schools Rye School District
High school in town None in town Robert W Traip Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.