Compare towns
Hartford vs Dover vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Hartford | Dover | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Lowest |
33,364Highest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
38.4±2.7 about the U.S. average |
| Hartford and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Somersworth and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$318,400±$23k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,477±$134 5% above U.S. |
| Dover and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somersworth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Hartford 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #64 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Dover School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Dover Senior High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
12.7Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.