Compare towns

Rye vs Warner vs Bow 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).
Warner has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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.

MeasureRyeWarnerBowKittery
People
Population
5,611
2,959Lowest
8,335
10,473Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
43.7±4
12% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bow 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%
20.4%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
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%
42.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow and Warner 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.
$94,022±$18k
16% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
Bow 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.
$353,100±$22kLowest
6% above U.S.
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
$468,500±$31k
41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,219±$123Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,539±$178
9% above 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
$7,519
141% above U.S.
$7,650
145% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
48.7%±21.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Warner 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%
8.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
74.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye and Bow 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 — #26 of 120 in NH #17 of 133 in ME
School district Rye School District Kearsarge Regional School District Bow School District Kittery Public Schools
High school in town None in town None in town Bow High School Robert W Traip Academy
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8Highest
9.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.