What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rye	Exeter
People
Population	5,611Highest	1,093Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-11.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.	52.6±7.7Lowest 35% above U.S.
	Rye and Exeter 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%	9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.9%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rye and Exeter 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%	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter 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.	$84,408±$12kLowest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.	$166,700±$39kLowest 50% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.	$995±$386Lowest 30% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.	$1,602Lowest 49% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±73.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	35 minHighest 33% above U.S.
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#2 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Rye School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.