What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dayton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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	Dayton	Rye
People
Population	2,313Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±5.5Lowest 8% above U.S.	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dayton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dayton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$24kLowest 41% above U.S.	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.
	Rye and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,200±$34kLowest 20% above U.S.	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$867Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.
	Rye and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,872Lowest 24% above U.S.	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rye and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Dayton Public Schools	Rye School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.