Compare towns
Rye vs Hampton Falls vs Lee
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 Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k 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 Falls | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Highest |
2,328Lowest |
4,576 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Rye and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Hampton Falls 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% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Hampton Falls 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Rye 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 |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
— |
| Hampton Falls and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and Lee 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Lee 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Hampton Falls School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.