Compare towns

Rye vs Hampton Beach vs Wolfeboro

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%).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureRyeHampton BeachWolfeboro
People
Population
5,611
2,605Lowest
6,571Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
NH: +4.6%
+14.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+2.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
55.1±3Lowest
27% above NH
60.4±2.4Highest
39% above NH
57±1.8
32% above NH
Hampton Beach and Wolfeboro 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%
13.7%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
Rye and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.7%±5.3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
33.7%±4.1
NH: 20.1%
34.6%±5.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
Wolfeboro and Hampton Beach 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
NH: 40.6%
34%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
45%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3
NH: 6%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
NH: 6%
2.8%±1.8Highest
NH: 6%
Wolfeboro 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
$94,375±$22k
5% below NH
Rye and Wolfeboro 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
$546,500±$60k
36% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156Highest
19% above NH
$1,375±$130
8% below NH
$1,103±$76Lowest
26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,519Highest
13% above NH
$6,115
8% below NH
$4,531Lowest
32% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.3%±16.1
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±20.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
12%±11.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Hampton Beach and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
8.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
62.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
78.1%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
7 yrs older than NH
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
1982Highest
3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above NH
25 min
5% below NH
24 minLowest
11% below NH
Work from home
30.9%±7.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
26.9%±6.1
NH: 16.8%
22.9%±6.6Lowest
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 — #46 of 120 in NH
School district Rye School District — Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town None in town — Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1
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.