What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k median).

Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).

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	Dresden	Rye
People
Population	1,645Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±7.9 42% above U.S.	55.1±3 42% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rye and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rye and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dresden and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,844±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,100±$29kLowest 28% below U.S.	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$502Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.
	Rye and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,500Lowest 20% below U.S.	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rye and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	6.7%±2.8Lowest 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	RSU 02	Rye School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.