Compare towns
Kittery vs Portsmouth 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 most affordable homes ($469k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% 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 | Kittery | Portsmouth | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,473 |
22,545Highest |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%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. |
42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest 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+ | 26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest 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% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Portsmouth 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. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Portsmouth 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. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Lowest 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Portsmouth School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.4Highest |
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| 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.