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 (87.4%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | 8,175Lowest |
10,681 |
12,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Highest 5% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% 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 | 22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest 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%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% 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 | $369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$318,400±$23kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,477±$134Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Somersworth and Berwick 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somersworth and Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Durham 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 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | — | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.