Compare towns

Rye vs Appleton vs Hollis vs Hampton Falls

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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.

MeasureRyeAppletonHollisHampton Falls
People
Population
5,611
1,360Lowest
8,603Highest
2,328
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
49.2±7.4Lowest
26% above U.S.
49.4±5
27% above U.S.
49.5±7.3
27% above U.S.
Rye and Hampton Falls 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%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
Hollis and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±9.3
U.S.: 17.2%
23.3%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Rye and Appleton 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
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hampton Falls and Appleton 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.
$53,618±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
$168,883±$22kHighest
109% above U.S.
$166,157±$14k
106% above U.S.
Hollis and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$235,600±$33kLowest
29% below U.S.
$675,900±$48k
103% above U.S.
$772,600±$76k
132% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
$1,104±$82Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,598±$302
13% above U.S.
$1,852±$475Highest
31% above U.S.
Hampton Falls and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,519
141% above U.S.
$3,588Lowest
15% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.3%±19.5
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton 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%
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
27 minLowest
3% above U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
Work from home
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye and Hollis 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 — #8 of 120 in NH —
School district Rye School District Appleton Public Schools Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District Hampton Falls School District
High school in town None in town None in town Hollis-Brookline High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.