Compare towns
Rye vs Stratham vs Ossipee vs New Castle
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k 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 | Ossipee | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
7,754Highest |
4,521 |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Stratham and Ossipee 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±$20k 53% above NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
| New Castle and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89k 155% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$2,511±$377 68% above NH |
$1,601±$245Lowest 7% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 13% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$8,509 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Stratham 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% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Rye 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | New Castle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.