Compare towns
Kittery vs Windham vs Hooksett 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
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 | Windham | Hooksett | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,473 |
16,038Highest |
15,057 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Rye 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kittery Public Schools | Windham School District | Hooksett School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.