Compare towns
Rye vs Hampton vs Sunapee
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k 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.
| Measure | Rye | Hampton | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
10,101Highest |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
51.2±1.7Lowest 18% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Sunapee 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% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Hampton 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% |
26.9%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Hampton 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 |
$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Rye and Sunapee 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 |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,654±$93Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
| Rye and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Rye 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | — | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.