Compare towns
North Hampton vs Hanover vs Rye vs Hampton
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 most homeowners (91.3%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($550k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | North Hampton | Hanover | Rye | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
11,685 |
5,611 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
| 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%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Rye 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% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
| Hanover 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±$61k 67% above NH |
$824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$550,200±$39kLowest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Rye School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| 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.