Compare towns

Eliot vs Hampton vs Rye vs Dover

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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).

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.

MeasureEliotHamptonRyeDover
People
Population
7,146
16,426
5,611Lowest
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
Hampton 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%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
Rye and Dover 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%
30.9%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
$95,233±$9k
18% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$498,900±$62k
50% above U.S.
$550,200±$39k
65% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,628±$94
15% above U.S.
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
$1,607±$100Lowest
14% above U.S.
Eliot and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$6,813
118% above U.S.
$7,519
141% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye and 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 #19 of 133 in ME #31 of 120 in NH #2 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Rye School District Dover School District
High school in town None in town Winnacunnet High School None in town Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.1Lowest
—
12.7Highest
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.