What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashland	Rye
People
Population	2,183Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average	55.1±3Highest 27% above NH
	Rye and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%	18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Ashland and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%
	Rye and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Ashland and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH	$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH	$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,961Lowest 26% below NH	$7,519Highest 13% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Rye and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	85.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% below NH	29 minHighest 8% above NH
Work from home	9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Ashland 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

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.