Compare towns
Rye vs Sutton vs Webster 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).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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 | Sutton | Webster | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
9,452 |
17,748Highest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Webster 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Sutton | Webster | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
11.6 |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.