Compare towns
North Hampton vs Stratham vs Hampton vs Rye
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).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($550k 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 | Stratham | Hampton | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
7,754 |
16,426Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
| Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Stratham and 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 48% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| Stratham 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 |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$550,200±$39kLowest 37% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 28% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
— |
| 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.