Compare towns
Newmarket vs Hollis vs Rye vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Newmarket | Hollis | Rye | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
8,603 |
5,611Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
49.4±5 14% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Rye and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hollis and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Hollis and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$675,900±$48k 68% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Rye and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734 31% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newmarket 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hollis 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #8 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Rye School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.8 |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.