Compare towns
Rye vs Dover vs Jackson
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 the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
33,364Highest |
897Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
| Jackson and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Dover 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% |
28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Jackson 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% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Jackson 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 42% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
| Rye and Jackson 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 |
$719,300±$109k 79% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,750±$1k 17% above NH |
| Rye and Jackson 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,001Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Jackson 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 | — |
| School district | Rye School District | Dover School District | Jackson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.