Compare towns
Rye vs Eliot vs Portsmouth
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).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Eliot | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
7,146 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rye and Eliot 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Portsmouth and Rye 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 74% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Rye and Portsmouth 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. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Portsmouth 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Portsmouth 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.