Compare towns
North Hampton vs Sutton vs Ossipee 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).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Sutton | Ossipee | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543 |
2,239Lowest |
4,521 |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
48.1±4.1Lowest 11% above NH |
50±4.6 15% 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% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Ossipee 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% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Ossipee 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% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sutton and Ossipee 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 |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| 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 |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,601±$245Lowest 7% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% 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 |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #100 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | 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.