Compare towns
Rye vs Newfields vs Hanover 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Kittery has the most affordable homes ($469k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Newfields | Hanover | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
2,023Lowest |
11,685Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 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% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Hanover 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. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61k 148% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Newfields School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.