Compare towns

Rye vs Windham vs Andover 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).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k 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.

MeasureRyeWindhamAndoverKittery
People
Population
5,611
594Lowest
616
10,473Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
49.2±5.1
26% above U.S.
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
Rye and Andover 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%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
11.5%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Rye and Windham 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%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±4.3Lowest
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%
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Kittery and Andover 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.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$102,500±$38k
27% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
Rye and Andover 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.
$353,900±$20kLowest
6% above U.S.
$382,900±$68k
15% above U.S.
$468,500±$31k
41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
—
$1,389±$364Lowest
about the U.S. average
$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.
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$5,190
66% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
69.4%±47.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Andover 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%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 min
5% below U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.6%±12.9
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye and Andover 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 — — #17 of 133 in ME
School district Rye School District — — Kittery Public Schools
High school in town None in town — — Robert W Traip Academy
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
9.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.