Compare towns

Rye vs Townsend 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).
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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.

MeasureRyeTownsendNorth Hampton
People
Population
5,611
9,100Highest
4,543Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% 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%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
Townsend and North Hampton 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%±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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
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%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Townsend and North 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±$39k
74% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kLowest
51% above U.S.
$146,458±$29kHighest
81% above U.S.
North Hampton 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
209% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
$670,400±$61k
102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
$1,469±$313Lowest
4% above 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.
$8,529Highest
173% 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%
23.5%±21Lowest
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%
2.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% 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%
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 #12 of 120 in NH
School district Rye School District North Middlesex North Hampton School District
High school in town None in town North Middlesex Regional None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.1
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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.