Compare towns
Lee vs Rye vs North Hampton vs Nottingham
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 homeowners (95.8%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
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 | Rye | North Hampton | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
5,611Highest |
4,543Lowest |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Nottingham 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±$54k 33% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$122,201±$20kLowest 23% above NH |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$457,500±$26kLowest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
| Nottingham and North Hampton 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
29 min 8% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Lowest 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Rye School District | North Hampton School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.