Compare towns
Hampton vs Kittery vs Rye vs Hampton Beach
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hampton | Kittery | Rye | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
10,473 |
5,611 |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Rye and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest 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. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Hampton Beach 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 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Kittery Public Schools | Rye School District | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Highest |
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.