Compare towns

Rye vs Hampton vs Hampton Beach 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).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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.

MeasureRyeHamptonHampton BeachKittery
People
Population
5,611
10,101
2,605Lowest
10,473Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
51.2±1.7
32% above U.S.
60.4±2.4Highest
55% above U.S.
46.8±2.3Lowest
20% above U.S.
Hampton Beach and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Rye and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.7%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton Beach and Rye 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%
44.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
34%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Kittery and Hampton 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.
$97,163±$4k
20% above U.S.
$82,557±$17kLowest
about the U.S. average
$93,728±$14k
16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$545,300±$63k
64% above U.S.
$508,900±$76k
53% above U.S.
$468,500±$31kLowest
41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,654±$93
17% above U.S.
$1,375±$130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
Rye and Kittery 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.
$6,872
120% above U.S.
$6,115
96% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±13.1
U.S.: 51.1%
61.7%±20.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton Beach and Hampton 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%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
25 min
4% below U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.9%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye and Hampton Beach 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 #31 of 120 in NH — #17 of 133 in ME
School district Rye School District — — Kittery Public Schools
High school in town None in town — — Robert W Traip Academy
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
9.9
On TownTapestry
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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.