Compare towns
Rye vs Wayne vs Winthrop 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).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Winthrop has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Kittery has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Wayne | Winthrop | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
1,101Lowest |
6,191 |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.6±5.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
| Wayne 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Winthrop 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% |
29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Wayne 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% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne 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±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$86,470±$4kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
| Rye and Kittery 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. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$294,800±$41kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$892±$319Lowest 37% 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. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,506 12% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±22.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winthrop 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Wayne 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 133 in ME | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | RSU 38 | Winthrop Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winthrop High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.