Compare towns
North Hampton vs Ogunquit vs Portsmouth 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 kids (19.2% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Portsmouth | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543 |
1,379Lowest |
22,545Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Rye 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% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Portsmouth 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kLowest 32% 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±$61kLowest 102% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
— | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and North Hampton 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | — | Portsmouth School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.



