Compare towns
Worcester vs Rye vs Ripton vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Rye | Ripton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
5,611Highest |
508Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Rye and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
— | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Rye and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rye School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.