Compare towns
Lee vs Pelham 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
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Lee | Pelham | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
14,449Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the NH average |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Pelham School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.