Compare towns
Rye vs Unity vs North Hampton 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).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
North Hampton has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Kittery has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Unity | North Hampton | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
1,375Lowest |
4,543 |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Unity and Rye 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Rye 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and North Hampton 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. |
$87,500±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| North Hampton 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,625±$804Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Rye 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. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% 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% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Unity 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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 | — | #12 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | Unity School District | North Hampton School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 4 photos → | 5 photos → | 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.