Compare towns
Keene vs Stratham vs Sullivan 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).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Sullivan has the oldest population (median age 46.6).
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 | Stratham | Sullivan | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
7,754 |
687Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Sullivan and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Sullivan 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Somersworth 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | — | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | 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.