Compare towns
Rye vs Townsend vs Moultonborough
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).
Moultonborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.6%).
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 | Moultonborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
9,100Highest |
5,126Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
58.3±4.5Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Moultonborough 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 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.9%±3.9Lowest 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%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Moultonborough 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% 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% |
6.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Moultonborough 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±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$106,693±$18kLowest 32% 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. |
$644,200±$120k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,452±$491Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Rye and Townsend 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$3,479Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±23.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Rye 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% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Moultonborough 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 | #36 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | North Middlesex | Moultonborough School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Moultonborough Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
6.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.