Compare towns
Somersworth vs Exeter vs Dover vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% 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 | Somersworth | Exeter | Dover | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
16,151 |
33,364Highest |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Exeter and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Dover 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Exeter High School | Dover Senior High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.1 |
12.7 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.