Compare towns
Rye vs Hampton vs Bethlehem
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 has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k 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 | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
16,426Highest |
2,537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
| Hampton 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Bethlehem 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% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Hampton 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% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampton 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 |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Rye and Hampton 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 |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
| Rye and Hampton 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 |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest 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% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Rye 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 | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.