What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).

Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Holderness	Rye
People
Population	1,917Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH	55.1±3Highest 27% above NH
Kids under 18	14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Rye and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%
	Rye and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Holderness and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH	$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH
	Rye and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH	$1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH
	Holderness and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,923Lowest 41% below NH	$7,519Highest 13% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Rye and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	85.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	29 minHighest 8% above NH
Work from home	9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Holderness School District	Rye School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.