Compare towns
Keene vs Cambridge 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
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Cambridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Somersworth has the oldest population (median age 38.4).
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 | Keene | Cambridge | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
3,767Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
37.4±1.8Lowest 4% below U.S. |
38.4±2.7Highest about the U.S. average |
| Somersworth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Cambridge and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Keene and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$72,344±$19kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$74,504±$13k 8% below U.S. |
| Keene and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$343,000±$38kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$318,400±$23k 4% below U.S. |
| Cambridge and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,183±$66Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,477±$134Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Somersworth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,910Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.6%±7.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cambridge and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Keene and Somersworth 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #25 of 70 in VT | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Cambridge School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.