Compare towns

Rye vs New Castle vs Eliot

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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.

MeasureRyeNew CastleEliot
People
Population
5,611
827Lowest
7,146Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
62.8±6Highest
61% above U.S.
50.8±5.9Lowest
31% above U.S.
New Castle 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
U.S.: 22%
12.9%±7.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.7%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
44.3%±16.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
New Castle 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Rye and Eliot 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
74% above U.S.
$176,953±$29kHighest
119% above U.S.
$101,522±$10kLowest
26% above U.S.
New Castle 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±$89k
209% above U.S.
$1,701,300±$267kHighest
411% above U.S.
$498,900±$62kLowest
50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156Lowest
26% above U.S.
$3,501Highest
148% above U.S.
$1,948±$471
38% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,519
141% above U.S.
$8,509Highest
173% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±85.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Rye 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%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
93%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
Work from home
30.9%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
40.1%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
New Castle 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 — #19 of 133 in ME
School district Rye School District New Castle School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
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

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.