Compare towns
Rye vs North Hampton vs Durham
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).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | North Hampton | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
4,543Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below 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%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Rye 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% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% 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 |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below 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 | $7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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 | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | North Hampton School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.