What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k 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	Brooks
People
Population	12,111Highest	1,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.4±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average	45.9±6.6Highest 18% above U.S.
	Brooks and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	17.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Somersworth and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brooks and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brooks 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±$13kHighest 8% below U.S.	$59,130±$10kLowest 27% below U.S.
	Somersworth and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$23kHighest 4% below U.S.	$196,700±$33kLowest 41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,477±$134Highest 5% above U.S.	$1,116±$112Lowest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,805Highest 118% above U.S.	$2,096Lowest 33% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	11.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	74.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brooks 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	#117 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Somersworth School District	RSU 03/MSAD 03
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

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.