Compare towns
Rye vs Dracut vs Hooksett 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).
Dracut has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
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 | Dracut | Hooksett | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
32,574Highest |
15,057 |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut 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% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest 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% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rye and Hooksett 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. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Rye 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. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Dracut | Hooksett School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.