Compare towns
Rye vs Bedford vs North Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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 | Bedford | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
23,746Highest |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45±2.2Lowest 4% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
| 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%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Bedford 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±$39kLowest 42% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
| Bedford 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 155% above NH |
$612,100±$26kLowest 52% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
| Bedford and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford 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% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Bedford School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.