What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pownal has the most affordable homes ($437k 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	Pownal	Rye
People
Population	1,696Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±8.4Lowest 21% above U.S.	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.
	Rye and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pownal and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pownal and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,333±$14kLowest 29% above U.S.	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.
	Rye and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,800±$32kLowest 31% above U.S.	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$636Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,212Lowest 67% above U.S.	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	78.9%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pownal and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	23.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rye and Pownal 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	RSU 05	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.