Compare towns
Hollis vs Lyme vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Hollis | Lyme | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,603Highest |
1,710Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±5 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Rye and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hollis and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hollis and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| Hollis and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $675,900±$48k 68% above NH |
$645,000±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$302 7% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Rye and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hollis 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Lyme School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — |
| 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.