Compare towns
Somersworth vs Exeter vs Pelham
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%).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,111Lowest |
16,151Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Pelham 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% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Pelham 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 |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Exeter 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±$21k 13% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Exeter 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% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Exeter High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.