What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethel has the most affordable homes ($345k median).

Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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	Bethel	Rye
People
Population	2,617Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.2±6.4Lowest 29% above U.S.	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.
	Rye and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rye and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.3%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rye and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bethel and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,929±$23kLowest 27% below U.S.	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$344,900±$37kLowest 4% above U.S.	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$864±$43Lowest 39% below U.S.	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,835Lowest 9% below U.S.	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.3%±15.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rye and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	27.7%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rye and Bethel 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	#49 of 133 in ME	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 44/MSAD 44	Rye School District
High school in town	Telstar High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.