Compare towns
Somersworth vs Durham vs Hooksett vs Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Berwick has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Somersworth | Durham | Hooksett | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
15,080Highest |
15,057 |
1,998Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Berwick and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Berwick 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
| Durham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$23kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 5% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Berwick 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District | — |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet | 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.