Compare towns
Rye vs Keene vs New Castle
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k 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 | Keene | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
22,939Highest |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
| New Castle 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% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Keene 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest 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% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
| New Castle 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±$89k 155% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 13% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,509Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rye School District | Keene School District | New Castle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.