Compare towns
Hooksett vs Kittery vs Manchester 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
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Hooksett | Kittery | Manchester | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
10,473 |
115,643Highest |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%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 | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest 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+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37Lowest 11% 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 | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Manchester and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #115 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Kittery Public Schools | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
14.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.