Compare towns
Newfields vs Rye vs Kittery vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Kittery has the most affordable homes ($469k median).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Rye | Kittery | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
5,611 |
10,473Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| Rye and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 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+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Lyme 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 | Newfields School District | Rye School District | Kittery Public Schools | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.