Compare towns
Dover vs New Castle 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%).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
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 | New Castle | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
827Lowest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$8,509Highest 28% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest 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% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93%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 |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle 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 | — | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | New Castle 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.