Compare towns

Rye vs Sugar Hill 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).
Sugar Hill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.9%).
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.

MeasureRyeSugar HillKittery
People
Population
5,611
658Lowest
10,473Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
60.8±2.1Highest
56% above U.S.
46.8±2.3Lowest
20% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.3%±3.5Lowest
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%
37.2%±12.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sugar Hill 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%
59%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±3.1Lowest
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±$39k
74% above U.S.
$154,091±$32kHighest
91% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
Sugar Hill 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.
$639,700±$50k
92% above U.S.
$468,500±$31kLowest
41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,208±$630Lowest
15% 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.
$7,340
135% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.3%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Rye and Sugar Hill 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%
0.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1965
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
24% below U.S.
Work from home
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.8%±4.8Lowest
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 — #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.