Compare towns
Rye vs Dover vs Hampton vs North Hampton
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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 | Dover | Hampton | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
33,364Highest |
16,426 |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
| Hampton 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% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Hampton 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% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 13% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Dover School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
10.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.