Compare towns
Rye vs Exeter vs North Hampton vs New London
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 most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | New London |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
16,151Highest |
4,543 |
4,433Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest 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 |
52.8±6.7 22% above NH |
| Rye and New London 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% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±3Lowest 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% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
37.5%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| New London 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% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
20.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$107,773±$10kLowest 9% 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 |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$554,100±$64k 38% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,594±$551Lowest 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 | $7,519 13% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$6,325Lowest 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.8%±22.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| New London and Exeter 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% |
0.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±7.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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 | #17 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.