Compare towns
Epping vs Durham vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Epping | Durham | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
15,080Highest |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Rye and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.