Compare towns

Henniker vs Dover vs Holderness 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

Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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.

MeasureHennikerDoverHoldernessSomersworth
People
Population
6,197
33,364Highest
1,917Lowest
12,111
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+9.2%
NH: +4.6%
-4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+0.8%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
31.1±6.1Lowest
28% below NH
36.9±1.9
15% below NH
39.4±7.4Highest
9% below NH
38.4±2.7
11% below NH
Holderness and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±3.7
NH: 18.2%
16.9%±1.8
NH: 18.2%
14.7%±9.3Lowest
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+
16.5%±6
NH: 20.1%
16.8%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
31.4%±4.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
14%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.4%
NH: 40.6%
52%
NH: 40.6%
55.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
31.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
27%±6.5Highest
NH: 6%
6.2%±1.2
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
4.9%±2
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,206±$21k
4% below NH
$94,829±$7k
4% below NH
$107,863±$45kHighest
9% above NH
$74,504±$13kLowest
25% below NH
Holderness and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,700±$49k
11% below NH
$436,700±$20kHighest
8% above NH
$363,100±$60k
10% below NH
$318,400±$23kLowest
21% below NH
Dover and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
$1,607±$100
8% above NH
$2,068±$385Highest
39% above NH
$1,477±$134
about the NH average
Holderness and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,877Highest
33% above NH
$8,249
24% above NH
$3,923Lowest
41% below NH
$6,805
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±22.6
NH: 48.2%
48.6%±6.3
NH: 48.2%
23.5%±21.2Lowest
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
11.6%
NH: 7.2%
8.3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
12.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
11.2%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%
NH: 72.8%
52.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
83.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
57.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
1967Lowest
12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below NH
23 min
15% below NH
27 minHighest
about the NH average
26 min
3% below NH
Work from home
15.5%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
18.6%±2.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
9.4%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
11.7%±3.5
NH: 16.8%
Dover and Henniker 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 #56 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH — #117 of 120 in NH
School district Henniker School District Dover School District Holderness School District Somersworth School District
High school in town None 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 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.