Compare towns
Dover vs North Hampton vs Rye vs Rollinsford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k 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 | Dover | North Hampton | Rye | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
4,543 |
5,611 |
2,626Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below 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 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton 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% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 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+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below 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 | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
| Rollinsford and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 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% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | North Hampton School District | Rye School District | Rollinsford 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.