Compare towns

New Castle vs Rye vs Brookline

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).
Rye has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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.

MeasureNew CastleRyeBrookline
People
Population
827Lowest
5,611
5,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+4.6%
NH: +4.6%
+13%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
62.8±6Highest
45% above NH
55.1±3
27% above NH
41.2±1.5Lowest
5% below 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%
18.2%±4
NH: 18.2%
26.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
44.3%±16.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
31.7%±5.3
NH: 20.1%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
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%
61.5%
NH: 40.6%
57.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
2.2%±1.3
NH: 6%
6.3%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
Brookline and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$176,953±$29kHighest
79% above NH
$140,655±$39kLowest
42% above NH
$171,046±$4k
73% above NH
New Castle and Brookline 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
$1,028,100±$89k
155% above NH
$544,400±$38kLowest
35% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,501Highest
135% above NH
$1,781±$156Lowest
19% above NH
$2,500±$1k
68% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,509
28% above NH
$7,519Lowest
13% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±85.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
44.3%±16.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
23.8%±43.5
NH: 48.2%
Rye and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%
NH: 7.2%
6.9%Highest
NH: 7.2%
0.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93%
NH: 72.8%
85.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
4 yrs older than NH
1972Lowest
7 yrs older than NH
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
22% above NH
29 minLowest
8% above NH
33 minHighest
25% above NH
Work from home
40.1%±19.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
30.9%±7.6
NH: 16.8%
24.7%±5.8Lowest
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 — #2 of 120 in NH #23 of 120 in NH
School district New Castle School District Rye School District Brookline School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.