Compare towns
Rye vs Brookline vs Exeter vs New Castle
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k 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 | Exeter | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
5,736 |
16,151Highest |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
| 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% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest 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% |
57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Exeter 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±$4k 73% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
| New Castle and Brookline 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 |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,509 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rye School District | Brookline School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | New Castle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.