Compare towns
Rye vs Exeter vs North Hampton vs Hollis
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Hollis has the highest household income ($169k).
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 | North Hampton | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
16,151Highest |
4,543Lowest |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
49.4±5 14% above NH |
| Rye and North Hampton 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%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hollis and North Hampton 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hollis and North Hampton 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 |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$675,900±$48k 68% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,598±$302Lowest 7% 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 | $7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hollis 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 | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.