Compare towns
Rye vs Hampton vs New Castle vs Hollis
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($550k median).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | New Castle | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
16,426Highest |
827Lowest |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
49.4±5Lowest 14% above NH |
| New Castle and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hollis and Rye 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% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle 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% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Hollis 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±$39k 42% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$168,883±$22k 71% above NH |
| New Castle and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89k 155% above NH |
$550,200±$39kLowest 37% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$675,900±$48k 68% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,598±$302Lowest 7% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 13% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$8,509 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle 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 | — | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | New Castle School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.