What stands out worked out from the figures below

Penobscot has the most affordable homes ($296k 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.

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

Measure	Penobscot	Rye
People
Population	1,154Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.4±5.7Lowest 37% above U.S.	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.
	Rye and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±6Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rye and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Penobscot and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rye and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,400±$58kLowest 11% below U.S.	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,141±$33Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S.	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Penobscot and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	17.7%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rye and Penobscot 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	Penobscot Public Schools	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.