Compare towns
South Hampton vs Rye vs Dorchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984 |
5,611Highest |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| South 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 | $152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$140,655±$39kLowest 42% above NH |
— |
| 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 64% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
— |
| 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 37% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Rye School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.