Compare towns
Rye vs Wells River 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).
Wells River has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
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 | Wells River | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Highest |
340Lowest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
42.7±12.7Lowest 10% 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%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| North Hampton 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% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Hampton and Rye 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. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below 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. |
$170,800±$103kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$900±$336Lowest 36% 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. |
$4,154Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells River 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% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest 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 | — | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | — | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.