Compare towns

Keene vs Kittery vs Ogunquit 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

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Rye has the most kids (18.2% under 18).

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.

MeasureKeeneKitteryOgunquitRye
People
Population
22,939Highest
10,473
1,379Lowest
5,611
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Highest
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+
19.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$93,728±$14k
16% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
Rye and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$468,500±$31k
41% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
Rye and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% 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
$6,812
118% above U.S.
$4,518
45% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.5%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Keene and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
20 min
24% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Rye 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 #81 of 120 in NH #17 of 133 in ME — #2 of 120 in NH
School district Keene School District Kittery Public Schools — Rye School District
High school in town Keene High School Robert W Traip Academy — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3Highest
9.9Lowest
— —
On TownTapestry
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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.