Compare towns
Eliot vs Hampton Falls vs New Castle vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the most affordable homes ($499k 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 | Eliot | Hampton Falls | New Castle | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
2,328 |
827Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Lowest 27% above U.S. |
62.8±6Highest 61% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampton Falls and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$176,953±$29kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
| 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 | $498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76k 132% above U.S. |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 411% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89k 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,509 173% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±85.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.1%±19.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampton Falls School District | New Castle School District | Rye 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 |
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.