Compare towns
Exeter vs Pembroke 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Pembroke | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
7,438Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
| Exeter and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Exeter and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest 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 | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Pembroke 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Pembroke School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Pembroke Academy | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
13.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.