Compare towns

Windham vs Rye vs Grafton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Grafton has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureWindhamRyeGrafton
People
Population
594Lowest
5,611Highest
666
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
55.1±3
42% above U.S.
59.2±4.4Highest
52% above U.S.
Grafton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Rye and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Grafton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
7.1%±5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Grafton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$76,111±$7kLowest
6% below U.S.
Rye and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$343,200±$85kLowest
3% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$1,288±$174Lowest
9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$4,843Lowest
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
53.8%±69.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Grafton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.8%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye and Windham 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 —
School district — Rye School District Athens Grafton School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.