Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton Beach vs Rye vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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.
| Measure | Exeter | Hampton Beach | Rye | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,605Lowest |
5,611 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hampton Beach 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #2 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.