Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Hampton vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($550k 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 | Portsmouth | Hampton | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
16,426 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
| Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Portsmouth and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$550,200±$39kLowest 37% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.