Compare towns
Rye vs Brookline vs Dunbarton
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).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k 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.
| Measure | Rye | Brookline | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
5,736Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Dunbarton 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Dunbarton 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 |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
| Brookline and Rye 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 |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Brookline and Rye 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Brookline School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.