Compare towns
Somersworth vs Exeter vs Hollis
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%).
Hollis has the highest household income ($169k).
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 | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,111 |
16,151Highest |
8,603Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
| Hollis and Exeter 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%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hollis 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% |
23.3%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Somersworth 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±$13k 11% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
| Exeter and Hollis 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis and Exeter 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 | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Exeter High School | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.