Compare towns

Somersworth vs Exeter 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%).
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.

MeasureSomersworthExeterPembroke
People
Population
12,111
16,151Highest
7,438Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+12.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+1.3%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.4±2.7Lowest
11% below NH
45.8±2.3Highest
6% above 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%±2.7Lowest
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%
16.4%±3.2
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
59.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
32.2%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.8Highest
NH: 6%
3.5%±1.6Lowest
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±$13kHighest
11% above NH
$89,519±$22k
10% below NH
Exeter and Pembroke 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
$371,500±$20k
8% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,477±$134
about the NH average
$1,856±$223Highest
24% above NH
$1,218±$354Lowest
18% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,805Lowest
about the NH average
$8,814Highest
32% 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%
48.4%±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%
15%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
69.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
67.4%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
12 yrs older than NH
1979Highest
same as NH
1969
10 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
3% below NH
25 min
7% below NH
25 minLowest
8% below NH
Work from home
11.7%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
19.9%±3.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
17%±4.8
NH: 16.8%
Exeter and Pembroke 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 #85 of 120 in NH
School district Somersworth School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Pembroke School District
High school in town Somersworth High School Exeter High School Pembroke Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
12.1
13.1Highest
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.