Compare towns

Hollis 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

Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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.

MeasureHollisRyeTownsend
People
Population
8,603
5,611Lowest
9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.4±5
27% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
23.3%±4.7
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rye and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Townsend and Hollis 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
109% above U.S.
$140,655±$39k
74% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kLowest
51% above U.S.
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
103% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,598±$302
13% above U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,469±$313Lowest
4% above U.S.
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 221% above U.S.
$7,519
141% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.3%±19.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend 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
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
3% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
29%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #136 of 282 in MA
School district Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District Rye School District North Middlesex
High school in town Hollis-Brookline High School None in town North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8Lowest
—
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.