Compare towns
Rye vs Dover vs Hampton Falls 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 people working from home (30.9%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Rye | Dover | Hampton Falls | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
33,364Highest |
2,328Lowest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Rye and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Rye 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 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% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Rye 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. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76k 132% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 141% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Dover School District | Hampton Falls School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.