Compare towns
Dover vs Bow vs Somersworth vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
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 | Dover | Bow | Somersworth | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
8,335 |
12,111 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
| Newington and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
| Bow and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Bow School District | Somersworth School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Bow High School | Somersworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.