What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rye	Paxton
People
Population	5,611Highest	5,002Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.	41.8±3.3Lowest 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rye and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S.	$134,083±$8kLowest 66% above U.S.
	Rye and Paxton 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.	$472,300±$29kLowest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.	$1,386±$88Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Highest 141% above U.S.	$7,129Lowest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	26.2%±15.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rye and Paxton 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%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	25.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rye and Paxton 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	#219 of 282 in MA
School district	Rye School District	Wachusett
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.