Compare towns

North Hampton vs Ogunquit vs Rye vs Wakefield

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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k 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.

MeasureNorth HamptonOgunquitRyeWakefield
People
Population
4,543
1,379Lowest
5,611Highest
5,405
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.5±3.3
30% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
49.4±4.1Lowest
27% 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%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
North Hampton and Wakefield 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%
31.7%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±4.7Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
26.2%Lowest
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%
2.2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ogunquit and North 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.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$140,655±$39k
74% above U.S.
$100,976±$11kLowest
25% 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.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$322,800±$43kLowest
about the U.S. average
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±$106Highest
28% above U.S.
—
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
$1,375±$434Lowest
about the U.S. average
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.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$7,519
141% above U.S.
$2,954Lowest
5% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.5%±21
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±82.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Rye and North Hampton 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%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
29 min
9% above U.S.
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
Work from home
25.9%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±9.3Lowest
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 — #2 of 120 in NH #118 of 120 in NH
School district North Hampton School District — Rye School District Wakefield School District
High school in town None in town — None in town None in town
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.