Compare towns
Kittery vs Dover vs Stratham 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
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Kittery | Dover | Stratham | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473 |
33,364Highest |
7,754 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 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+ | 46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Stratham 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
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| 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.