Compare towns
North Hampton vs Stow vs Rye
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).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Stow | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
7,165Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and North Hampton 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stow 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±$29k 81% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kLowest 74% above U.S. |
| Stow 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±$61kLowest 102% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 173% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,519Lowest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Nashoba | Rye 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 |
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.