Compare towns
Newington vs Hillsborough vs Somersworth vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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.
| Measure | Newington | Hillsborough | Somersworth | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
5,980 |
12,111 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Newington and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Newington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Newington and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081 9% below NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Hillsborough 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 | — | #97 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Somersworth School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Somersworth High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.4 |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.