Compare towns

Somersworth vs Kittery vs Exeter

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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.

MeasureSomersworthKitteryExeter
People
Population
12,111
10,473Lowest
16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.4±2.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.8±2.3Highest
20% above U.S.
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
Kittery and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
Somersworth and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Kittery and Exeter 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
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
8% below U.S.
$93,728±$14k
16% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
Exeter and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$318,400±$23kLowest
4% below U.S.
$468,500±$31kHighest
41% above U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
Kittery and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,477±$134Lowest
5% above U.S.
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
Exeter and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,805
118% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.3%±14.7
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Kittery 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 #17 of 133 in ME #22 of 120 in NH
School district Somersworth School District Kittery Public Schools Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town Somersworth High School Robert W Traip Academy Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4
9.9Lowest
12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.