Compare towns

Rye vs Saco vs Bath vs North Hampton

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 expensive homes ($1028k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).

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.

MeasureRyeSacoBathNorth Hampton
People
Population
5,611
20,819Highest
8,815
4,543Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
44.9±1.5Lowest
15% above U.S.
45.4±3
17% above U.S.
50.5±3.3
30% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
15.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Bath and Saco 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.
$92,241±$11k
14% above U.S.
$69,390±$12kLowest
14% below U.S.
$146,458±$29kHighest
81% above U.S.
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
209% above U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
$310,900±$30kLowest
7% below U.S.
$670,400±$61k
102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
$1,044±$116Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,805±$106Highest
28% above U.S.
North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,519
141% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
$3,847Lowest
23% above U.S.
$8,529Highest
173% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
51.3%±15.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
23.5%±21Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bath and Saco 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%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
Work from home
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #38 of 133 in ME #31 of 133 in ME #12 of 120 in NH
School district Rye School District Saco Public Schools RSU 01 - LKRSU North Hampton School District
High school in town None in town None in town Morse High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
14.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.