What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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	Rye	Alstead
People
Population	5,611Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.1±3Lowest 27% above NH	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
	Alstead and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Rye and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Rye and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Alstead and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH	$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156 19% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Highest 13% above NH	$5,322Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH	1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above NH	32 minHighest 19% above NH
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#2 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Rye School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.