What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boscawen has the most affordable homes ($287k 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	Boscawen	Rye
People
Population	4,044Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46±4.2Lowest 6% above NH	55.1±3Highest 27% above NH
Kids under 18	18.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Rye and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.2%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%
	Rye and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6%	2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Boscawen and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH	$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH
	Rye and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,265±$307Lowest 15% below NH	$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,549Lowest about the NH average	$7,519Highest 13% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2%	44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Rye and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17%Highest NH: 7.2%	6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%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	28 minLowest 4% above NH	29 minHighest 8% above NH
Work from home	9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#51 of 120 in NH	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Merrimack Valley School District	Rye School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.