Compare towns
Rye vs Windham vs New Castle vs Hampton Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rye has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
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 | Windham | New Castle | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,611 |
16,038Highest |
827Lowest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3 27% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| New Castle 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 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle 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% NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kLowest 42% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$176,953±$29k 79% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
| Windham and New Castle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89k 155% above NH |
$723,300±$50kLowest 80% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
$3,218±$350 116% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,509 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Rye School District | Windham School District | New Castle School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.