Compare towns
Somersworth vs Epping vs Dover
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 affordable homes ($318k median).
Epping has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Dover has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Epping | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,111 |
7,430Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Dover 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% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Epping 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 |
$104,220±$7kHighest 5% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Epping and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Epping and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Epping and Dover 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Dover 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Epping School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Epping High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.3Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.