Compare towns
Rye vs Epping vs Wolfeboro
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 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 | Epping | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
7,430Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Epping and Wolfeboro 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 |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rye and Epping 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 |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Rye and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Epping School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.