What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($312k 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	Jefferson	Rye
People
Population	2,647Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.1±4.9Lowest about the U.S. average	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.
Kids under 18	28%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jefferson and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,078±$17kLowest 5% above U.S.	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.
	Rye and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,600±$35kLowest 6% below U.S.	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,120±$130Lowest 21% below U.S.	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,587Lowest 17% below U.S.	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.8%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rye and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	8.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#45 of 133 in ME	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Jefferson Public Schools	Rye School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.