What stands out worked out from the figures below

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Somersworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).

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	Somersworth	Ashland
People
Population	12,111Highest	2,183Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH	42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average
	Ashland and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%	21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Ashland and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	35.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2Highest NH: 6%	2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Somersworth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,504±$13kHighest 25% below NH	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH
	Somersworth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$23kHighest 21% below NH	$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,477±$134Highest about the NH average	$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,805Highest about the NH average	$4,961Lowest 26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2%	39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Somersworth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%	64.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 3% below NH	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	11.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%	9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Somersworth and Ashland 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	#117 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Somersworth School District	Ashland School District
High school in town	Somersworth High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	72 photos →	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.