Compare towns
Dover vs Nelson vs Somersworth
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Nelson | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
648Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Nelson and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| 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 | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Nelson and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Dover and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Dover 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Nelson School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.