Compare towns
Hope 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
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% 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 | Hope | Kittery | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748Lowest |
10,473Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3Lowest 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+ | 47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Lowest 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 | $3,842Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 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 | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Lowest 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | 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 Our Story | 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.