Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Somersworth vs Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Eliot has the most homeowners (79.8%).
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 | Dover | Durham | Somersworth | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
10,681 |
12,111 |
7,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
38.4±2.7 about the U.S. average |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Somersworth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$318,400±$23kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,477±$134 5% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 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 | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Eliot 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Somersworth School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | Somersworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 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.