Compare towns

Hampton vs Rye vs Townsend

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).

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.

MeasureHamptonRyeTownsend
People
Population
10,101Highest
5,611Lowest
9,100
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.2±1.7
32% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Townsend 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
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Townsend and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,163±$4kLowest
20% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$121,528±$23k
51% above U.S.
Rye and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$545,300±$63k
64% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,654±$93
17% above U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,469±$313Lowest
4% above U.S.
Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,872
120% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±13.1
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
9% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye and 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 #136 of 282 in MA
School district — Rye School District North Middlesex
High school in town — None in town North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.