Compare towns

Somersworth vs Hollis vs Exeter

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).
Hollis has the highest household income ($169k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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.

MeasureSomersworthHollisExeter
People
Population
12,111
8,603Lowest
16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+8.6%
NH: +4.6%
+12.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.4±2.7Lowest
11% below NH
49.4±5Highest
14% above NH
45.8±2.3
6% 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%
21%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
17%±2.7Lowest
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%
23.3%±4.7
NH: 20.1%
24.4%±2.8Highest
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%
57.3%
NH: 40.6%
59.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2
NH: 6%
3.6%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.8Highest
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
$168,883±$22kHighest
71% above NH
$110,346±$13k
11% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$318,400±$23kLowest
21% below NH
$675,900±$48kHighest
68% above NH
$456,600±$21k
13% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,477±$134Lowest
about the NH average
$1,598±$302
7% above NH
$1,856±$223Highest
24% 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,814
32% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.3%±14.7
NH: 48.2%
31.3%±19.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
59%±11.3Highest
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%
1.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
91.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
69.1%
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
27 minHighest
about the NH average
25 minLowest
7% below NH
Work from home
11.7%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
29%±6.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
19.9%±3.7
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 #8 of 120 in NH #22 of 120 in NH
School district Somersworth School District Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town Somersworth High School Hollis-Brookline High School Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
11.8
12.1Highest
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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.