Compare towns
Hampton vs Rye vs Nelson
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 (26.2% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
5,611 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Rye 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%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| Rye and Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% 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 |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Rye 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 | Nelson 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 |
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.