Compare towns
Somersworth vs Rye vs Exeter vs Dover
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Rye | Exeter | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
5,611Lowest |
16,151 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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 NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Exeter 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 |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Rye 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Exeter and Rye 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.1 |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.