Compare towns
Rye vs Dover vs South Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
South Eliot has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
33,364Highest |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
| Rye and South Eliot 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. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 141% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.