Compare towns

Chatham vs Rye vs Stow

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Stow has the most homeowners (96.2%).

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.

MeasureChathamRyeStow
People
Population
430Lowest
5,611Highest
535
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
48.3±8.6Lowest
24% above U.S.
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
57±10.5Highest
47% above U.S.
Stow and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±7.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Chatham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.5%±10Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
37.9%±17.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stow and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Chatham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,042±$19k
18% below U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$42,204±$22kLowest
48% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,900±$42k
9% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$326,400±$42kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,690
18% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$3,304Lowest
6% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Rye and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1998Highest
18 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
35% above U.S.
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
51 minHighest
95% above U.S.
Work from home
7.3%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±12
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye and Stow 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 — #2 of 120 in NH —
School district — Rye School District —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.