Compare towns
North Hampton vs Rye vs Sunapee vs Hampton Falls
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Sunapee | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543 |
5,611Highest |
3,416 |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH |
| Sunapee 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Hampton Falls 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%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee 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% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and North Hampton 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 |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,713±$451Lowest 15% above NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and North Hampton 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 |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and Sunapee 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Rye School District | Sunapee School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.