Compare towns
Rye vs Derry vs Exeter
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).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Derry | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
34,116Highest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry 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 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Exeter 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 NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Rye and Exeter 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 |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Derry 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Exeter 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.