What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most affordable homes ($406k 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	Bristol	Rye
People
Population	2,917Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	61±3.2Highest 57% above U.S.	55.1±3Lowest 42% above U.S.
	Bristol and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rye and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	42.8%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bristol and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rye and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,750±$19kLowest 25% above U.S.	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.
	Rye and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$406,400±$54kLowest 22% above U.S.	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,051±$106Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,668Lowest 14% below U.S.	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.4%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rye and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	25%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rye and Bristol 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	#16 of 133 in ME	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Bristol Public Schools	Rye School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.