Compare towns
Dublin vs Nelson vs Rye vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dublin has the most renters (16.8% rent).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Dublin | Nelson | Rye | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,688 |
648Lowest |
5,611Highest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4 14% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Rye and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Dublin and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14k 6% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$72k 7% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165 11% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165 22% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Nelson School District | Rye School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.