Compare towns

Hampton vs Rye vs Townsend

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).

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.

MeasureHamptonRyeTownsend
People
Population
16,426Highest
5,611Lowest
9,100
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Townsend 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
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Townsend 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
18% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$121,528±$23k
51% above U.S.
Rye and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$550,200±$39k
65% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$94
15% above U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,469±$313Lowest
4% above U.S.
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
118% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
9% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
21.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye and 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 #136 of 282 in MA
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Rye School District North Middlesex
High school in town Winnacunnet High School None in town North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1Lowest
—
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.