What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).

Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rye	Middleton
People
Population	5,611Lowest	9,816Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.	43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rye and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middleton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,655±$39kLowest 74% above U.S.	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.
	Middleton 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 209% above U.S.	$742,700±$48kLowest 123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.	$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average
	Rye and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Lowest 141% above U.S.	$8,785Highest 182% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rye and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#2 of 120 in NH	#71 of 282 in MA
School district	Rye School District	Middleton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.