Compare towns
Durham vs Keene vs Rye 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Keene | Rye | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
22,939Highest |
5,611Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Rye and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District | Rye School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Keene High School | None in town | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
12.3Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.