Compare towns

Hampton vs Rye vs Meredith vs North Hampton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).

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.

MeasureHamptonRyeMeredithNorth Hampton
People
Population
10,101Highest
5,611
6,758
4,543Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+4.6%
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
51.2±1.7
18% above NH
55.1±3
27% above NH
55.5±3.7Highest
28% above NH
50.5±3.3Lowest
17% above NH
Meredith and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
18.2%±4
NH: 18.2%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.2%±5.4Highest
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+
26.9%±3.1
NH: 20.1%
31.7%±5.3
NH: 20.1%
34.2%±5Highest
NH: 20.1%
26%±4.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Meredith and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
61.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
45.9%
NH: 40.6%
54.5%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.7Highest
NH: 6%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
NH: 6%
2.9%±1.2
NH: 6%
2.5%±1.5
NH: 6%
Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,163±$4k
about the NH average
$140,655±$39k
42% above NH
$87,019±$19kLowest
12% below NH
$146,458±$29kHighest
48% above 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
$545,300±$63k
35% above NH
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
155% above NH
$480,100±$48kLowest
19% above NH
$670,400±$61k
67% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,654±$93
11% above NH
$1,781±$156
19% above NH
$1,149±$304Lowest
23% below NH
$1,805±$106Highest
21% above NH
North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,872
3% above NH
$7,519
13% above NH
$5,006Lowest
25% below NH
$8,529Highest
28% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±13.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
44.3%±16.1
NH: 48.2%
48.5%±9.2
NH: 48.2%
23.5%±21Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%
NH: 7.2%
6.9%
NH: 7.2%
7.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
85.5%
NH: 72.8%
75.8%
NH: 72.8%
91.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
same as NH
1972Lowest
7 yrs older than NH
1975
4 yrs older than NH
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
3% below NH
29 minHighest
8% above NH
26 min
about the NH average
25 minLowest
8% below NH
Work from home
20.5%±3.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
30.9%±7.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
23.7%±4.9
NH: 16.8%
25.9%±6.9
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 #31 of 120 in NH #2 of 120 in NH #62 of 120 in NH #12 of 120 in NH
School district — Rye School District Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District North Hampton School District
High school in town — None in town Inter-Lakes High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.