Compare towns
Amherst vs Lee 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 highest household income ($153k).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
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 | Lee | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
4,576Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Lee 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% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee 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 |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above 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 |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
— | $1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Rye and Amherst 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and Lee 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Lowest 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.