Compare towns
Rye vs Stratham vs Merrimack
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k 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.
| Measure | Rye | Stratham | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
7,754 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Merrimack 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Merrimack and Stratham 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 42% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above 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 |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 13% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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 NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest 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 | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| 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.