Compare towns
Rye vs Appleton vs North Hampton 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).
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Appleton | North Hampton | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611Highest |
1,360Lowest |
4,543 |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
| Rye and North Hampton 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% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton 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% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Lowest 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% |
54.5% 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% |
2.5%±1.5 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. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% 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. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and North Hampton 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. |
$8,529 173% 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% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7 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% |
2.9%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% |
91.3%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. |
1984 4 yrs newer 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. |
25 minLowest 7% below 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% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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 | — | #12 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rye School District | Appleton Public Schools | North Hampton School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.