Compare towns
Berwick vs Dover vs Rochester 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 (87.4%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Somersworth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
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 | Dover | Rochester | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175Lowest |
33,364Highest |
33,144 |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.4±2.7 about the U.S. average |
| Rochester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 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+ | 17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Dover and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$318,400±$23k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
$1,477±$134 5% above U.S. |
| Dover and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somersworth and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Dover School District | Rochester School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Spaulding High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
13.2Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.