Compare towns
North Hampton vs Rye vs Durham 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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Rye | Durham | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
5,611 |
15,080Highest |
10,101 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
| Rye and 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% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 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% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,654±$93 11% 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 | $8,529 28% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,872Lowest 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Rye School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.