Compare towns
Rye vs Lebanon 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).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Kittery has the oldest housing (typical home built 1965).
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 | Lebanon | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
14,999Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest 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% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest 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% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rye and Lebanon 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. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Rye and Lebanon 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. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Lebanon 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% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Lebanon School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.