Compare towns
Milton vs Ossipee 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
Milton has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Milton | Ossipee | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,538 |
4,521Lowest |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4Lowest 6% above NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Rye and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
24.8% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Ossipee and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
$325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,587±$318Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Rye and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,663 15% below NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 minLowest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Milton 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 | #116 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Nute High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.