Compare towns
Rye vs Stratham vs Portsmouth 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).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Stratham | Portsmouth | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
7,754 |
22,545Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 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% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Stratham 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. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Stratham 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. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 141% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Portsmouth School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Highest |
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.