Compare towns
Rye vs Epping vs North Hampton 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%).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | North Hampton | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
7,430 |
4,543Lowest |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Rye and North Hampton 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%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Epping 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% |
26%±4.9 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% 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 | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% 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 | $7,519 141% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% 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% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Rye 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% |
2.9%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% |
91.3%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. |
1984 4 yrs newer than 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. |
25 min 7% below 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% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Lowest 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Epping School District | North Hampton 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.