Compare towns
North Hampton vs Hampton vs Middlesex 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
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 | Hampton | Middlesex | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543 |
16,426Highest |
1,943Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Rye 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and 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±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Middlesex 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.