Compare towns
Rye vs Jackson vs 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Kittery has the most affordable homes ($469k median).
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 | Jackson | Hampton | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
897Lowest |
10,101 |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Jackson 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% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 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%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Jackson 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% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 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. |
$117,986±$46k 46% above U.S. |
$97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rye and Jackson 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. |
$719,300±$109k 116% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
$1,654±$93Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Rye and Jackson 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. |
$6,001 92% above U.S. |
$6,872 120% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Rye 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Jackson School District | — | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.