Compare towns
South Hampton vs Rye vs Amesbury vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k 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 | South Hampton | Rye | Amesbury | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984 |
5,611 |
17,403Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| South Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Rye School District | Amesbury | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Amesbury High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.