Compare towns
Newmarket vs Durham vs Keene 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
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Newmarket | Durham | Keene | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463Lowest |
15,080 |
22,939Highest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Newmarket and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Durham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Durham and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below 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 | $8,734 31% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Keene School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Oyster River High School | Keene High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
12.3Highest |
12.3Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 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.