Compare towns
Lee vs Portsmouth 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).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Portsmouth | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
22,545Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Rye 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% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye and Lee 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 |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.