Compare towns
Kingston vs Kittery vs Rye vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Kingston | Kittery | Rye | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275 |
10,473 |
5,611Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 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+ | 24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% 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 | $492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% 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 | $7,906 153% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Kittery Public Schools | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.