Compare towns
North Hampton vs Strafford 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
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 | Strafford | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543 |
1,372Lowest |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Lowest 30% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
| 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 102% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| 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 173% above U.S. |
$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Strafford School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.