What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hartford	Somersworth
People
Population	10,736Lowest	12,111Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S.	38.4±2.7Lowest 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%±3Lowest 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%	14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,125±$7kHighest 3% below U.S.	$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S.
	Hartford and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S.	$318,400±$23kHighest 4% below U.S.
	Somersworth and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,477±$134Highest 5% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S.	$6,805Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Somersworth and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hartford and Somersworth 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	#117 of 120 in NH
School district	Hartford School District	Somersworth School District
High school in town	Hartford High School	Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.