What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

Hampstead has the most affordable homes ($521k 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	Hampstead
People
Population	5,611Lowest	9,102Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 27% above NH	45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%	21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Hampstead 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%	21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6%
	Hampstead and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH	$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH
	Rye and Hampstead 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	$521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH	$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Lowest 13% above NH	$8,634Highest 30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2%	44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Rye and Hampstead 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%	3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above NH	30 minHighest 13% above NH
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%	21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Rye and Hampstead 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	#49 of 120 in NH
School district	Rye School District	Hampstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.