Compare towns
Rye vs Lawrence 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).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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.
| Measure | Rye | Lawrence | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
88,736Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±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% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lawrence 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. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kittery 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. |
$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,662±$50Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$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. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Lawrence | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.