Compare towns
Kittery vs Hampton vs South Eliot 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Hampton | South Eliot | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473 |
16,426Highest |
4,203Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
55.5±8 43% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
| Hampton and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Hampton 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. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,518 45% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Hampton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | — | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Winnacunnet High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
10.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.