What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

China has the most affordable homes ($240k 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	China
People
Population	5,611Highest	4,526Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.	40.9±5.9Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	China and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.6%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	China and Rye 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.	$96,309±$12kLowest 19% above U.S.
	Rye and China 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.	$240,000±$37kLowest 28% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156 26% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.	$2,535Lowest 19% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	10.6%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rye and China 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#2 of 120 in NH	#27 of 133 in ME
School district	Rye School District	RSU 18
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.