Compare towns
Rye vs Hampton Beach 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).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Portsmouth has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Hampton Beach | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
2,605Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
| Hampton Beach and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Portsmouth 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Portsmouth 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 |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Rye and Portsmouth 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 |
$508,900±$76kLowest 26% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Rye 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 |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 7 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hampton Beach 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | — | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.