Compare towns
Rye vs Townsend vs 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 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 | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
9,100 |
10,101Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Hampton 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 74% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$97,163±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rye and Townsend 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 209% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,872 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Hampton 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and 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 | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.