Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Rye vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k 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.
| Measure | Hampton Falls | Rye | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328Lowest |
5,611Highest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
| Rye and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Thornton 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Rye School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.