Compare towns
Rye vs Meredith vs Hampton Falls
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 the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
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 Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
6,758Highest |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
49.5±7.3Lowest 14% 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%±4 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Rye 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% |
25%±3.6Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampton Falls 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±$39k 42% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Rye School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| 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.