Compare towns
Rye vs Kittery vs Hampstead
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).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
10,473Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Lowest 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% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead 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±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Rye and Hampstead 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±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below 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 | $7,519 141% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Hampstead 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Lowest 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Kittery Public Schools | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.