Compare towns
Exeter vs Kittery vs Moultonborough 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
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Moultonborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.6%).
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 | Exeter | Kittery | Moultonborough | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
10,473 |
5,126Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
58.3±4.5Highest 50% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
| Moultonborough and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Moultonborough and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Moultonborough and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$106,693±$18k 32% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$644,200±$120k 94% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,452±$491Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$3,479Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±23.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
23%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Moultonborough 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #36 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kittery Public Schools | Moultonborough School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Robert W Traip Academy | Moultonborough Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
9.9 |
6.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.