Compare towns
Amherst vs Hampton Beach vs 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).
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 | Amherst | Hampton Beach | Hampton | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
2,605Lowest |
16,426Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Lowest 6% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Rye 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 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+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Amherst and Hampton 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 |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| Amherst and Rye 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 |
$508,900±$76kLowest 26% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Rye and 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 |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | — | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.