Compare towns
Rye vs Exeter vs Hampton Beach vs North Hampton
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).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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 | Exeter | Hampton Beach | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
16,151Highest |
2,605Lowest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton 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% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
| Exeter and North Hampton 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Exeter 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hampton Beach 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.