Compare towns

Eliot vs North Hampton vs Rye vs Stratham

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).

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.

MeasureEliotNorth HamptonRyeStratham
People
Population
7,146
4,543Lowest
5,611
7,754Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
50.5±3.3
30% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Lowest
7% above U.S.
Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stratham and North Hampton 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%
26%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rye and Eliot 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%
61.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Stratham and North Hampton 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.
$146,458±$29k
81% above U.S.
$140,655±$39k
74% above U.S.
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
Stratham and North Hampton 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.
$670,400±$61k
102% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$655,400±$36k
97% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,948±$471
38% above U.S.
$1,805±$106
28% above U.S.
$1,781±$156Lowest
26% above U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
Stratham and Eliot 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.
$8,529
173% above U.S.
$7,519
141% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
23.5%±21Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Eliot 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%
2.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye and North 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 #12 of 120 in NH #2 of 120 in NH #43 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 North Hampton School District Rye School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.