Compare towns
Keene vs Rye vs North Hampton 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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Rye | North Hampton | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
5,611 |
4,543Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Rye and North Hampton 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% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and North Hampton 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| North Hampton and Rye 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| North Hampton and Rye 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Rye School District | North Hampton 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 | 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.