Compare towns
North Hampton vs Plymouth vs Rye
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Plymouth | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
6,601Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| 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%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| 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 67% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| 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 28% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and Plymouth 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.