Compare towns
Berwick vs Plaistow vs Rollinsford 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Plaistow has the highest household income ($108k).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% 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 | Berwick | Plaistow | Rollinsford | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,998Lowest |
7,861 |
2,626 |
12,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
38.8±5.5 about the U.S. average |
38.4±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Berwick and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±4.8Lowest 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%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rollinsford and Plaistow 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% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%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% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$89,500±$26k 11% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Rollinsford 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 |
$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$398,100±$33k 20% above U.S. |
$318,400±$23kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,809±$394Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,477±$134 5% above U.S. |
| Rollinsford and Plaistow 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. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$6,851 120% above U.S. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±26.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Timberlane Regional School District | Rollinsford School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | — | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.