Compare towns
Rye vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Lancaster | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Highest |
3,216 |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above 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%±4 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest 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%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Lowest 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% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest 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±$39k 42% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% 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 |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 13% above NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$8,509Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rye School District | White Mountains Regional School District | New Castle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.