Compare towns
Dover vs Hampton Falls vs New Castle 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
Dover has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Hampton Falls has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Rye has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Dover | Hampton Falls | New Castle | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,328 |
827Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| New Castle and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89k 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,509 28% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Rye 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Hampton Falls School District | New Castle School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.