Compare towns
North Hampton vs Windham vs Townsend vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Windham | Townsend | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
16,038Highest |
9,100 |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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 81% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
| Windham 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 102% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 173% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Windham School District | North Middlesex | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.