Compare towns
Exeter vs North Hampton vs Rye vs Wolfeboro
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%).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | North Hampton | Rye | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,543Lowest |
5,611 |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Wolfeboro 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 |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Exeter and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District | Rye School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | — | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.