Compare towns
Rye vs Hooksett vs Portsmouth
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Hooksett | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
15,057 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
| Rye and Hooksett 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 |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 13% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Portsmouth 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Hooksett School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.