Compare towns
Webster vs Rye vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k 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 | Webster | Rye | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227 |
5,611Highest |
1,595Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
43.5±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Rye and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.9%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$101,696±$8kLowest about the NH average |
| Rye and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,500±$293 about the NH average |
| Rye and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 10% below NH |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$5,504Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 14% above NH |
29 minLowest 8% above NH |
39 minHighest 45% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Rye School District | Middleton School District |
| High school in town | None 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.