Compare towns
North Hampton vs Rye vs Keene
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Rye | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
5,611 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below 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% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene 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 NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Rye School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| 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.