Compare towns

Rye vs Candia 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

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Candia has the most affordable homes ($416k median).
Kittery has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

MeasureRyeCandiaKittery
People
Population
5,611
4,134Lowest
10,473Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
48.3±3.8
24% above U.S.
46.8±2.3Lowest
20% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.5Lowest
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+
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9
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+
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Candia and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$119,737±$37k
48% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
Rye and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$415,600±$46kLowest
25% above U.S.
$468,500±$31k
41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,213±$554Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
Rye and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$6,100
96% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.3%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±21.6Lowest
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
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
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 #2 of 120 in NH #41 of 120 in NH #17 of 133 in ME
School district Rye School District Candia 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.