Compare towns
Keene vs Holderness vs Lee 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
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Holderness | Lee | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,917Lowest |
4,576 |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Lee and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Lee and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Lee and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
— | $1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Holderness School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | 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 | 10 photos → | 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.