Compare towns
Rye vs Ware vs Kittery vs North Hampton
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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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 | Ware | Kittery | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
10,048 |
10,473Highest |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
| Rye and North Hampton 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton and Ware 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%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Ware 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. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Rye 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #17 of 133 in ME | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Ware | Kittery Public Schools | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.