Compare towns

Stratham vs Rye vs North Hampton vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratham has the most affordable homes ($655k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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.

MeasureStrathamRyeNorth HamptonWindham
People
Population
7,754
5,611
4,543Lowest
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+4.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
+16.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.6±4.9
4% below NH
55.1±3Highest
27% above NH
50.5±3.3
17% above NH
41.1±2.9Lowest
5% below NH
Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.3
NH: 18.2%
18.2%±4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.2%±5.4
NH: 18.2%
27.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.6
NH: 20.1%
31.7%±5.3Highest
NH: 20.1%
26%±4.9
NH: 20.1%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
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+
69.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
61.5%
NH: 40.6%
54.5%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
62.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7Highest
NH: 6%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
NH: 6%
2.5%±1.5
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.8
NH: 6%
Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,998±$20k
53% above NH
$140,655±$39kLowest
42% above NH
$146,458±$29k
48% above NH
$189,583±$19kHighest
91% above NH
Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$655,400±$36kLowest
63% above NH
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
155% above NH
$670,400±$61k
67% above NH
$723,300±$50k
80% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377
68% above NH
$1,781±$156Lowest
19% above NH
$1,805±$106
21% above NH
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
Windham and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,781
47% above NH
$7,519Lowest
13% above NH
$8,529
28% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
44.3%±16.1
NH: 48.2%
23.5%±21Lowest
NH: 48.2%
52.2%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%
NH: 7.2%
6.9%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.9%
NH: 7.2%
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%
NH: 72.8%
85.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
91.3%
NH: 72.8%
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
1972Lowest
7 yrs older than NH
1984
5 yrs newer than NH
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
29 min
8% above NH
25 minLowest
8% below NH
31 minHighest
15% above NH
Work from home
25.3%±6.6
NH: 16.8%
30.9%±7.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
25.9%±6.9
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
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 #43 of 120 in NH #2 of 120 in NH #12 of 120 in NH #13 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Rye School District North Hampton School District Windham School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town Windham High School
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.