Compare towns
Dover vs Rye vs Seabrook Beach
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).
Rye has the highest household income ($141k).
Seabrook Beach has the most people working from home (39.5%).
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 | Rye | Seabrook Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
5,611 |
1,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
62±3.8Highest 43% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Dover 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% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
42.1%±7.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook Beach 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% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$93,571±$43kLowest 6% below NH |
| Rye and Dover 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$920,900±$75k 129% above NH |
| Rye and Seabrook Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,725±$575 16% above NH |
| Rye and Seabrook Beach 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 |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
90.5%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Seabrook Beach and Dover 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% |
6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older 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 |
29 min 8% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
39.5%±20Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Seabrook Beach 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 | Rye School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.