Compare towns
Derry vs Keene vs North Hampton vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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.
| Measure | Derry | Keene | North Hampton | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
22,939 |
4,543Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Keene School District | North Hampton School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.