Compare towns
Rye vs Ogunquit vs Surry vs Portsmouth
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 highest household income ($141k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Surry has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Surry | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
1,379Lowest |
1,836 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
52.4±5.6 35% above U.S. |
42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Surry 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit 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% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$74,508±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$296,300±$36kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
— | $969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 141% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±59.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Surry and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | — | Surry Public Schools | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.