Compare towns
North Hampton vs Bow vs Rye vs Hampton Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Bow | Rye | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543 |
8,335Highest |
5,611 |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Hampton Falls 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 48% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$140,655±$39kLowest 42% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
| Bow and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 28% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 min 8% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Bow School District | Rye School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.