Compare towns
North Hampton vs Sunapee vs Rye vs Hampton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
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 | Sunapee | Rye | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543 |
3,416Lowest |
5,611 |
10,101Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Lowest 17% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
51.2±1.7 18% 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee 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±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 67% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,654±$93Lowest 11% above NH |
| 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 28% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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 NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Sunapee School District | Rye School District | — |
| High school 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.