Compare towns
Rye vs New Castle vs Kittery vs Hollis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Kittery has the most affordable homes ($469k median).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | New Castle | Kittery | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
827Lowest |
10,473Highest |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
62.8±6Highest 61% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
49.4±5 27% above U.S. |
| New Castle and Rye 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% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hollis and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Castle and Rye 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% |
68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Hollis 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. |
$176,953±$29kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$168,883±$22k 109% above U.S. |
| New Castle and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89k 209% above U.S. |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 411% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$675,900±$48k 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,598±$302Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 141% above U.S. |
$8,509 173% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±85.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Kittery 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% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.1%±19.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Castle 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | New Castle School District | Kittery Public Schools | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.