What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lee	Rye
People
Population	4,576Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average	55.1±3Highest 27% above NH
Kids under 18	21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2%	18.2%±4Lowest 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%±6.8Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Lee and Rye 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	$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	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,781±$156 19% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,661Highest 45% above NH	$7,519Lowest 13% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Rye and Lee 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%	6.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest NH: 72.8%	85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest about the NH average	29 minHighest 8% above NH
Work from home	27.6%±8.8Lowest 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	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	Rye School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	10 photos →	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.