Compare towns
Rye vs Ripton vs Townshend 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Ripton | Townshend | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
508Lowest |
1,538 |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 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% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Ripton 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% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ripton 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. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
— | $1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Townshend 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 |
| School district | Rye School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.