Compare towns

Ellsworth vs Hooksett 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

Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

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.

MeasureEllsworthHooksettRye
People
Population
8,657
15,057Highest
5,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±2.4
11% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
Ellsworth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,375±$18kLowest
4% below U.S.
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
Rye and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,300±$22kLowest
27% below U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,017±$195Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
Rye and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,262Lowest
5% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±15.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Ellsworth and Rye 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%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
7.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #63 of 133 in ME #30 of 120 in NH #2 of 120 in NH
School district Ellsworth Public Schools Hooksett School District Rye School District
High school in town Ellsworth High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7
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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.