Compare towns
Rye vs Nelson vs North 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).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Nelson | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Highest |
648Lowest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
| Rye and North Hampton 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and North Hampton 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% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| North Hampton 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±$39k 42% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Rye 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 | — | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Nelson School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.