Compare towns
Rye vs Needham 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 oldest population (median age 55.1).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
32,459Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89k 209% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 141% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Rye 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Needham | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
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.