Compare towns
Somersworth vs Exeter vs Keene
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 kids (19.9% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,111Lowest |
16,151 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Exeter 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Exeter High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.1 |
12.3Highest |
| 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.