Compare towns
North Hampton vs Stratham vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Sutton | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543 |
7,754Highest |
2,239Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest 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 |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above 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%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sutton and Stratham 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 |
$130,313±$31kLowest 32% above 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 |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,656±$614Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 28% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Rye 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.