Compare towns
Rye vs Meredith vs 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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Hampton has the youngest population (median age 51.2).
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 | Meredith | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
6,758 |
10,101Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
51.2±1.7Lowest 18% above NH |
| Meredith and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Hampton 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Meredith 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 |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,654±$93 11% above NH |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.