Compare towns
Rye vs Auburn vs New Castle vs Portsmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Auburn | New Castle | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
6,119 |
827Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Portsmouth 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 42% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
| New Castle and Auburn 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 155% above NH |
$600,300±$29kLowest 49% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$8,509Highest 28% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Auburn School District | New Castle School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.