Compare towns

Rye vs Stratham vs Keene

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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.

MeasureRyeStrathamKeene
People
Population
5,611Lowest
7,754
22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
55.1±3Highest
27% above NH
41.6±4.9
4% below NH
37.6±2.3Lowest
13% below NH
Kids under 18
18.2%±4
NH: 18.2%
23.5%±5.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Stratham 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%
20.6%±3.6
NH: 20.1%
19.5%±1.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
61.5%
NH: 40.6%
69.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
44.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.3Lowest
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.7
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,655±$39k
42% above NH
$151,998±$20kHighest
53% above NH
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
Stratham 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
155% above NH
$655,400±$36k
63% above NH
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156
19% above NH
$2,511±$377Highest
68% above NH
$1,342±$68Lowest
10% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,519
13% above NH
$9,781Highest
47% above NH
$6,812Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.3%±16.1Lowest
NH: 48.2%
64%±38.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
Stratham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.9%
NH: 7.2%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
10.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
NH: 72.8%
92.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
55.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
7 yrs older than NH
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above NH
27 min
about the NH average
17 minLowest
36% below NH
Work from home
30.9%±7.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
25.3%±6.6
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Rye and Stratham 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 #43 of 120 in NH #81 of 120 in NH
School district Rye School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Keene School District
High school in town None in town None in town Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.