Compare towns
Sunapee vs Rye 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
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Sunapee | Rye | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,416 |
5,611Highest |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH |
| Sunapee and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Sunapee and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,713±$451Lowest 15% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
29 minLowest 8% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hampton Falls 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Sunapee School District | Rye School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| 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.