Compare towns
Rye vs Stratham vs Portsmouth
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).
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 | Stratham | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
7,754 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest 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%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Stratham 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±$39k 42% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% 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±$36kLowest 63% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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 NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest 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 | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.