Compare towns
Hampton vs Rye vs Seabrook Beach
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 affordable homes ($550k median).
Rye has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Seabrook Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Seabrook Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
5,611 |
1,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
55.1±3Lowest 27% above NH |
62±3.8Highest 43% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
42.1%±7.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.2Lowest 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±$9k 4% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$93,571±$43kLowest 6% 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±$39kLowest 37% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$920,900±$75k 129% above NH |
| Rye and Seabrook Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,725±$575 16% above NH |
| Rye and Seabrook Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
90.5%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Seabrook Beach and Hampton 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% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
39.5%±20Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Seabrook Beach 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 | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | 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.