Compare towns
Amherst vs Exeter vs North Hampton 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
Amherst has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Amherst | Exeter | North Hampton | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
16,151Highest |
4,543Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| Amherst and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| Exeter and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Rye 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.