Compare towns
Rye vs Townsend vs Dunstable vs North Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 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 | Townsend | Dunstable | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
9,100Highest |
3,408Lowest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4 7% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Townsend 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 74% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30k 103% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 141% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | North Middlesex | Groton-Dunstable | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
U.S. 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.