Compare towns
Rye vs Durham vs Nashua
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Nashua has the most affordable homes ($404k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Nashua |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
15,080 |
91,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
40±1.3 8% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.6%±1.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nashua 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.9%±1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5%±0.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$96,326±$5kLowest about the NH average |
| Rye and Durham 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$403,900±$11kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,737±$41 16% above NH |
| Rye and Nashua 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,799Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.8%±4.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #67 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Nashua School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Nashua High School South |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.