What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($363k 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	Salisbury
People
Population	5,611Highest	1,609Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 27% above NH	51.5±4.5Lowest 19% above NH
	Rye and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Salisbury 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%	24.9%±4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Rye and Salisbury 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%	37.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Highest NH: 6%	2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Rye and Salisbury 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 42% above NH	$111,591±$17kLowest 13% above NH
	Rye and Salisbury 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	$363,400±$47kLowest 10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH	$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH
	Salisbury and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Highest 13% above NH	$5,859Lowest 12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Rye and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	7.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above NH	32 minHighest 20% above NH
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%	23.3%±10.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Rye and Salisbury 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	—
School district	Rye School District	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.