Compare towns

Keene vs Somersworth vs North Hampton

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).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
North Hampton 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.

MeasureKeeneSomersworthNorth Hampton
People
Population
22,939Highest
12,111
4,543Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+0.8%
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
37.6±2.3Lowest
13% below NH
38.4±2.7
11% below NH
50.5±3.3Highest
17% above NH
Kids under 18
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.9%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
19.2%±5.4
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%
14%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
26%±4.9Highest
NH: 20.1%
North Hampton 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%
31.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
54.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.8%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
4.9%±2
NH: 6%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,445±$8k
21% below NH
$74,504±$13kLowest
25% below NH
$146,458±$29kHighest
48% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
$318,400±$23k
21% below NH
$670,400±$61kHighest
67% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,342±$68Lowest
10% below NH
$1,477±$134
about the NH average
$1,805±$106Highest
21% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,812
about the NH average
$6,805Lowest
about the NH average
$8,529Highest
28% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
56.3%±14.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
23.5%±21Lowest
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%
11.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
57.8%
NH: 72.8%
91.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
1967
12 yrs older than NH
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
36% below NH
26 minHighest
3% below NH
25 min
8% below NH
Work from home
15.6%±2.7
NH: 16.8%
11.7%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
25.9%±6.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #81 of 120 in NH #117 of 120 in NH #12 of 120 in NH
School district Keene School District Somersworth School District North Hampton School District
High school in town Keene High School Somersworth High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3Highest
11.4Lowest
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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.