Compare towns
Hampton vs Rye vs Alstead vs Hampton Beach
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Rye | Alstead | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
5,611 |
1,551Lowest |
2,605 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
55.1±3Lowest 27% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$82,557±$17k 17% below NH |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
— | $1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hampton Beach 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 | — | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Rye School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.