Compare towns
Exeter vs New Castle vs Newfields 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Rye has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | New Castle | Newfields | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
827Lowest |
2,023 |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
| New Castle 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% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields 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% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$176,953±$29k 79% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| Newfields and New Castle 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 |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89k 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$8,509 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Rye 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% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Rye 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 |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | New Castle School District | Newfields School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | 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.