Compare towns

Hanover vs Henniker vs Pembroke 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

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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.

MeasureHanoverHennikerPembrokeSomersworth
People
Population
11,685
6,197Lowest
7,438
12,111Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%
NH: +4.6%
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+1.3%
NH: +4.6%
+0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
28.7±5.1Lowest
34% below NH
31.1±6.1
28% below NH
41.9±3.3Highest
3% below NH
38.4±2.7
11% below NH
Pembroke and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.4%±2.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
15.3%±3.7
NH: 18.2%
24%±4.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
19.9%±4
NH: 18.2%
Pembroke and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±6
NH: 20.1%
16.4%±3.2
NH: 20.1%
14%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Hanover and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
88.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
41.4%
NH: 40.6%
32.2%
NH: 40.6%
31.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
36.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 6%
27%±6.5
NH: 6%
3.5%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
4.9%±2
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$169,583±$36kHighest
71% above NH
$95,206±$21k
4% below NH
$89,519±$22k
10% below NH
$74,504±$13kLowest
25% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$824,900±$61kHighest
105% above NH
$356,700±$49k
11% below NH
$371,500±$20k
8% below NH
$318,400±$23kLowest
21% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,253±$217Highest
51% above NH
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
$1,218±$354
18% below NH
$1,477±$134
about the NH average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,877
33% above NH
$7,589
14% above NH
$6,805Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±17.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
43.5%±22.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
48.4%±21.8
NH: 48.2%
56.3%±14.7
NH: 48.2%
Hanover and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
11.6%
NH: 7.2%
15%Highest
NH: 7.2%
11.2%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.5%
NH: 72.8%
67.4%
NH: 72.8%
57.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
3 yrs older than NH
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1969
10 yrs older than NH
1967Lowest
12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
27% below NH
20 min
24% below NH
25 min
8% below NH
26 minHighest
3% below NH
Work from home
26.4%±5Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.5%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
17%±4.8
NH: 16.8%
11.7%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Hanover and Pembroke 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 #1 of 120 in NH #56 of 120 in NH #85 of 120 in NH #117 of 120 in NH
School district Dresden School District · Hanover School District Henniker School District Pembroke School District Somersworth School District
High school in town Hanover High School None in town Pembroke Academy Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
—
13.1Highest
11.4
On TownTapestry
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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.