Compare towns
Rye vs South Eliot vs Moultonborough 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 most expensive homes ($1028k median).
South Eliot has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Moultonborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.6%).
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 | South Eliot | Moultonborough | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
4,203Lowest |
5,126 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
55.5±8 43% above U.S. |
58.3±4.5Highest 50% above U.S. |
42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Moultonborough and South Eliot 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% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and South Eliot 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% |
32.8%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Moultonborough and South Eliot 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% |
49.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Moultonborough 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. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$106,693±$18k 32% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Rye and Moultonborough 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. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$644,200±$120k 94% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,452±$491Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Portsmouth 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. |
$4,442 42% above U.S. |
$3,479Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±23.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Portsmouth 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% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Moultonborough 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 | — | #36 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | — | Moultonborough School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Moultonborough Academy | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.