Compare towns
Rye vs Exeter vs Saco 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k 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 | Exeter | Saco | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
16,151 |
20,819Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Saco 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Rye and Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Saco 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Saco Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 59 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.