Compare towns
Rye vs Amesbury vs New Castle vs North Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Rye | Amesbury | New Castle | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
17,403Highest |
827Lowest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
62.8±6Highest 61% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$176,953±$29kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
| New Castle and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89k 209% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 411% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 141% above U.S. |
$7,360Lowest 136% above U.S. |
$8,509 173% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±85.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.1%±19.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Castle 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #151 of 282 in MA | — | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Amesbury | New Castle School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Amesbury High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.