Compare towns
North Hampton vs Kittery vs Rye vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | North Hampton | Kittery | Rye | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
10,473 |
5,611 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Kittery Public Schools | Rye School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
— | 10.1Highest |
| 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.