Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Ogunquit vs Exeter 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
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Rye has the highest household income ($141k).
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 | Ogunquit | Exeter | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
1,379Lowest |
16,151 |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
— | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 157% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Rye 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.