What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

Hadley has the most affordable homes ($511k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rye	Hadley
People
Population	5,611Highest	5,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.	45.8±7.1Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Rye and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rye and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rye and Hadley 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 U.S.: 35.7%	61.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.	$119,259±$12kLowest 48% above U.S.
	Rye and Hadley 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 209% above U.S.	$511,000±$43kLowest 54% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.	$1,402±$132Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.	$5,271Lowest 69% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.6%±18.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rye and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rye and Hadley 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	#116 of 282 in MA
School district	Rye School District	Hadley
High school in town	None in town	Hopkins Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.