Compare towns
North Hampton vs Windham vs Rye vs Auburn
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).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Windham | Rye | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
16,038Highest |
5,611 |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Windham 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$140,655±$39kLowest 42% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$600,300±$29kLowest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
| Windham 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Auburn 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Windham School District | Rye School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.