Compare towns
North Hampton vs Middlesex vs Stratham 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Middlesex | Stratham | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543 |
1,943Lowest |
7,754Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Stratham 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. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
| Stratham 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 102% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 173% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer 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. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Lowest 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.