Compare towns
Rye vs Kittery vs Exeter vs North Hampton
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).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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 | Kittery | Exeter | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
10,473 |
16,151Highest |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% 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% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Rye 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% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±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% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% 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. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
| Exeter and North Hampton 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Kittery Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 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.