Compare towns
Keene vs Lee vs Newmarket 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 the most homeowners (95.8%).
Newmarket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Lee | Newmarket | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
4,576Lowest |
9,463 |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Lee and Newmarket 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Keene 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Lee and Newmarket 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Lee and Newmarket 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 |
— | $1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Newmarket and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Newmarket 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Newmarket 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 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.