Compare towns
Rye vs North Hampton vs Kensington
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Kensington has the youngest population (median age 43.3).
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.
| Measure | Rye | North Hampton | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Highest |
4,543 |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest 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% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Kensington and North Hampton 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 42% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Kensington and North Hampton 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 |
$657,700±$47kLowest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
| Kensington and North Hampton 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 |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and Kensington 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% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Rye School District | North Hampton School District | Kensington 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.