Compare towns
Rye vs Whitefield 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).
Whitefield has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
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 | Whitefield | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
2,516Lowest |
10,473Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
51.4±4.6 32% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rye and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Kittery 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% |
28.6%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Whitefield 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% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitefield 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. |
$63,125±$12kLowest 22% below 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. |
$240,400±$22kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,077±$160Lowest 24% 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. |
$4,394Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,518 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitefield 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Kittery 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 | #86 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rye School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | White Mountains Regional High School | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.