Compare towns

Exeter vs Hartford vs Keene vs Somersworth

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% 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.

MeasureExeterHartfordKeeneSomersworth
People
Population
16,151
10,736Lowest
22,939Highest
12,111
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
43.2±3.9
11% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
38.4±2.7
about the U.S. average
Exeter and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
18%±3
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Somersworth and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
14%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$78,125±$7k
3% below U.S.
$78,445±$8k
about the U.S. average
$74,504±$13kLowest
8% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$304,500±$26k
8% below U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$318,400±$23k
4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,218±$118Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
$1,477±$134
5% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$5,773Lowest
85% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
$6,805
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.3%±14.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
18 min
30% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Keene 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 #22 of 120 in NH #34 of 70 in VT #81 of 120 in NH #117 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Hartford School District Keene School District Somersworth School District
High school in town Exeter High School Hartford High School Keene High School Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1
9.6Lowest
12.3Highest
11.4
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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.