Compare towns
Ossipee vs Rye vs Stratham vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Milton has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Ossipee | Rye | Stratham | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,521Lowest |
5,611 |
7,754Highest |
4,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 15% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
45.7±2.4 6% above NH |
| Rye and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest 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+ | 24.8% NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Stratham and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
| Stratham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,587±$318Lowest 6% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$5,663 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Stratham 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.