Compare towns
North Hampton vs Acton vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has the most affordable homes ($670k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | North Hampton | Acton | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
24,155Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kLowest 74% above U.S. |
| Acton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61kLowest 102% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Acton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 173% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,519Lowest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Acton-Boxborough | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.