What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k median).

Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Peacham	Rye
People
Population	887Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.1±5.7Lowest 29% above U.S.	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.
	Rye and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Peacham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Peacham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Peacham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,000±$28kLowest 11% above U.S.	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.
	Rye and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$302,000±$64kLowest 9% below U.S.	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,028±$248Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,605Lowest 80% above U.S.	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Peacham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	24.2%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rye and Peacham 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	—	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Peacham School District	Rye School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.