Compare towns
Rye vs Wolfeboro vs Hampton
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 most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Lowest |
6,571 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Lowest 27% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Wolfeboro 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro 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 42% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
| Rye and Hampton 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 155% above NH |
$546,500±$60kLowest 36% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.