Compare towns
Rye vs Exeter vs Stratham 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%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Stratham | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
16,151Highest |
7,754 |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
49.4±5 14% above NH |
| Rye and Hollis 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Hollis 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% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Stratham 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 |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hollis and Stratham 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 |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$675,900±$48k 68% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,598±$302Lowest 7% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,781 47% 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%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.