Compare towns
Rye vs Sidney vs Exeter
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).
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% 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 | Sidney | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
4,790Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Exeter 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% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Rye and Exeter 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. |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Rye 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Exeter 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | RSU 18 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 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.