Compare towns
Somersworth vs Bow vs Boscawen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Boscawen has the oldest population (median age 46).
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 | Somersworth | Bow | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,111Highest |
8,335 |
4,044Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
46±4.2Highest 6% above NH |
| Boscawen and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow 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% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$77,328±$27k 22% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,265±$307Lowest 15% below NH |
| Bow and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805 about the NH average |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,549Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21 NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Bow School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.