Compare towns
Rye vs Epping vs Atkinson 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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Atkinson has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Epping | Atkinson | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
7,430 |
7,267 |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Rye 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% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Atkinson 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Atkinson 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. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Rye and Epping 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Atkinson 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Epping School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 9.9Highest |
| 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.