Compare towns
Kittery vs Rye vs Stratham vs York
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
York has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
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 | Rye | Stratham | York |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473 |
5,611Lowest |
7,754 |
13,986Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.5±5.2 27% above U.S. |
| Rye and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and York 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and York 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% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Stratham 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. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$121,250±$25k 50% 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±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$636,400±$30k 91% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,490±$336Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$4,658 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±10.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and York 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and York 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #13 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | York Public Schools |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | None in town | York High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | — | 9.6Lowest |
| 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.