Compare towns
Rye vs Dunbarton vs Amherst
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).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Amherst has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Dunbarton | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
3,097Lowest |
11,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
45.9±3.5Lowest 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Dunbarton 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% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Dunbarton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Amherst 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 |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Rye and Amherst 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 |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Rye 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% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Rye 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Dunbarton School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.