Compare towns
Rye vs Hanover vs Kittery vs New Castle
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 kids (18.2% under 18).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Kittery has the most affordable homes ($469k median).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Kittery | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
11,685Highest |
10,473 |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
62.8±6Highest 61% above U.S. |
| New Castle 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% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest 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% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Castle 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$176,953±$29kHighest 119% above U.S. |
| New Castle and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89k 209% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61k 148% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 411% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 141% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,509 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±85.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.1%±19.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Castle and Rye 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Rye School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Kittery Public Schools | New Castle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.