Compare towns
Berwick vs Durham vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has the most homeowners (73%).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Berwick | Durham | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998Lowest |
15,080Highest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6Highest 10% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
38.4±2.7 about the U.S. average |
| Berwick and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berwick and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Durham and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$318,400±$23kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,477±$134Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Somersworth and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet |
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.