Compare towns
Derry vs Somersworth vs Laconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the highest household income ($92k).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Derry | Somersworth | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Highest |
12,111Lowest |
17,085 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3 5% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Laconia and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11kHighest 7% below NH |
$74,504±$13k 25% below NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Derry and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Highest 4% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
| Derry and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278Highest 9% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Derry and Laconia 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Somersworth School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | — | Somersworth High School | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.