Compare towns

New Castle vs Rye vs Kittery

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Rye has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Kittery has the most affordable homes ($469k 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.

MeasureNew CastleRyeKittery
People
Population
827Lowest
5,611
10,473Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
62.8±6Highest
61% above U.S.
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
46.8±2.3Lowest
20% above U.S.
New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.9%±7.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9
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+
44.3%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Kittery and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$176,953±$29kHighest
119% above U.S.
$140,655±$39k
74% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,701,300±$267kHighest
411% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89k
209% above U.S.
$468,500±$31kLowest
41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,501Highest
148% above U.S.
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
$1,716±$224Lowest
21% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,509Highest
173% above U.S.
$7,519
141% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±85.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Rye and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
40.1%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
New Castle and Rye 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 — #2 of 120 in NH #17 of 133 in ME
School district New Castle School District Rye School District Kittery Public Schools
High school in town None in town None in town Robert W Traip Academy
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.9
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.