Compare towns
Rye vs Northborough 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).
Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Northborough | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
15,750Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
45±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northborough 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% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest 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% |
65.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northborough 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. |
$153,199±$19kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Northborough and Rye 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. |
$620,000±$24k 86% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,919±$269Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Northborough and Rye 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. |
$7,983Highest 156% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northborough 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 | 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 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±5.3Lowest 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 | #35 of 282 in MA | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Northborough · Northboro-Southboro | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Algonquin Regional High | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.