Compare towns
Rye vs Wellesley vs Hollis
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 oldest population (median age 55.1).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Wellesley | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
30,347Highest |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
37.1±2.2Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.4±5 27% above U.S. |
| Rye and Hollis 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% |
24.1%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Wellesley and Hollis 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% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Hollis 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% |
89%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.3%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kLowest 74% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$168,883±$22k 109% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89k 209% above U.S. |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 376% above U.S. |
$675,900±$48kLowest 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$2,886±$360Highest 104% above U.S. |
$1,598±$302Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Lowest 141% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wellesley and Rye 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | — | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.