Compare towns
Keene vs Kittery 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 most affordable homes ($253k median).
Kittery has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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.
| Measure | Keene | Kittery | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
10,473Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
38.4±2.7 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Somersworth and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%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% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$93,728±$14kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Kittery and Keene 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. |
$468,500±$31kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$318,400±$23k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,477±$134 5% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Somersworth 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #17 of 133 in ME | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Kittery Public Schools | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Robert W Traip Academy | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
9.9Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.