What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

Bristol has the most affordable homes ($406k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rye	Bristol
People
Population	5,611Highest	2,917Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±3Lowest 42% above U.S.	61±3.2Highest 57% above U.S.
	Bristol and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	13.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rye and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	42.8%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bristol 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rye and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.	$100,750±$19kLowest 25% above U.S.
	Rye and Bristol 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.	$406,400±$54kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.	$1,051±$106Lowest 26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.	$2,668Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.4%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rye and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	25%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rye and Bristol 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	#16 of 133 in ME
School district	Rye School District	Bristol Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.