Compare towns
Rye vs Thompson vs Sutton 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Sutton has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Sutton | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
9,337 |
9,452 |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2 39% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Rye and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Sutton 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Sutton 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Thompson School District | Sutton | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Sutton High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
12.6Highest |
9.9 |
| 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.