Compare towns
Rye vs Exeter vs North Hampton vs Portsmouth
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 homeowners (91.3%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
16,151 |
4,543Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
| 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%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest 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%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest 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% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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±$13k 11% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% 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 |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Exeter 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$8,018 20% 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% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 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 | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.