Compare towns
Derry vs Exeter vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Derry | Exeter | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
16,151 |
12,111Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Exeter High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.1 |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 72 photos → |
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.