Compare towns
Rye vs Sutton vs Thornton
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).
Sutton has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Thornton has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Sutton | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Highest |
2,239Lowest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
48.1±4.1Lowest 11% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
| Rye and Thornton 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% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Sutton and Thornton 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 42% above NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| Rye and Sutton 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 |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Rye and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 13% above NH |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Rye 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Thornton 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.