Compare towns
New Castle vs Exeter 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
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Rye has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | New Castle | Exeter | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 827Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89k 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,509 28% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Rye 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | New Castle School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.