What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k 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	Lee
People
Population	5,611Highest	4,576Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 27% above NH	42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%	21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lee 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%	22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Rye and Lee 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%	50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Lee 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	$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH
	Rye and Lee 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	$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156 19% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Lowest 13% above NH	$9,661Highest 45% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2%	38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Rye and Lee 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%	2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	95.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above NH	28 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%	27.6%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Rye and Lee 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	#3 of 120 in NH
School district	Rye School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	10 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.