Compare towns
Rye vs Lyme vs Hollis
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).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Lyme | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
1,710Lowest |
8,603Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
49.4±5 14% above NH |
| Rye and Hollis 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hollis and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Lyme 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Hollis and Lyme 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 |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hollis 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 |
$645,000±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
$675,900±$48k 68% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
| Rye and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hollis 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 | — | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Lyme School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8 |
| 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.