What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Somersworth	Durham
People
Population	12,111Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.4±2.7Highest 11% below NH	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH
Kids under 18	19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2%	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	14%±3Highest NH: 20.1%	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Somersworth and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6%	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH	$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH	$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,477±$134Highest about the NH average	$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH
	Somersworth and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,805Lowest about the NH average	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.3%±14.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2%
	Durham and Somersworth 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%	15.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%	64.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 3% below NH	19 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 120 in NH	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Somersworth School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Somersworth High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.