What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rye	Lancaster
People
Population	5,611Highest	3,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 27% above NH	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH
	Rye and Lancaster 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%	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Rye 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%	28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Rye and Lancaster 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%	30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6%
	Lancaster 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	$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Highest 13% above NH	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Rye and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 7 yrs older than NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above NH	23 minLowest 14% below NH
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#2 of 120 in NH	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	Rye School District	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.