Compare towns
Alstead vs Hampton Beach vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Alstead | Hampton Beach | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
2,605 |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.1±3Lowest 27% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$82,557±$17k 17% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hampton Beach 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 |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.