Compare towns
Rye vs Seabrook Beach 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 highest household income ($141k).
Seabrook Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Seabrook Beach | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
1,001Lowest |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
62±3.8Highest 59% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest 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%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.1%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Seabrook Beach 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$93,571±$43kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kittery 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. |
$920,900±$75k 177% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rye and Seabrook Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,725±$575 22% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Rye and Seabrook Beach 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
90.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Seabrook Beach and Rye 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs 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. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
39.5%±20Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Seabrook Beach 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 |
| School district | Rye School District | — | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.