Compare towns
Rye vs Manchester vs South Hooksett
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).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
South Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Manchester | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
115,643Highest |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
38±1 12% below NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Manchester 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% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
| Rye and South Hooksett 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 |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$6,801 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester and Rye 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rye School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.