Compare towns
Hampton vs Rye vs Sunapee vs North Hampton
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).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
North Hampton has the youngest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Sunapee | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
5,611 |
3,416Lowest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
50.5±3.3Lowest 17% above NH |
| Sunapee and Hampton 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%±4 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton 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%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee 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±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| North Hampton and Rye 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 |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
| North Hampton and Rye 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and North 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Rye School District | Sunapee School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.