Compare towns
Keene vs Marlborough 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).
Marlborough has the oldest population (median age 47.6).
Somersworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
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 | Marlborough | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
1,048Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
47.6±11.7Highest 10% above NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Marlborough and Somersworth 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% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough 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% |
22.9%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Marlborough 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.3% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kHighest 21% below NH |
$67,356±$10kLowest 32% below NH |
$74,504±$13k 25% below NH |
| 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 37% below NH |
$261,700±$44k 35% below NH |
$318,400±$23kHighest 21% below NH |
| Somersworth and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$973±$153Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,477±$134Highest about the NH average |
| 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 about the NH average |
$6,076Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±17.8Lowest 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% |
7.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1943Lowest 36 yrs older than NH |
1967Highest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±10.9 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and Marlborough 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 | — | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | 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 |
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.