Compare towns
Rye vs Lee vs Hampton vs North Hampton
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).
Lee has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Lee | Hampton | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
4,576 |
16,426Highest |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
| Hampton 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and North Hampton 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% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Hampton 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% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Hampton 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| North Hampton 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±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
— | $1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$8,529 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.