Compare towns
Somersworth vs Hanover vs Bow 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 affordable homes ($318k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Bow | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111Highest |
8,479 |
8,335 |
8,175Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 about the U.S. average |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Bow and Berwick 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Berwick 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% |
17.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$153,281±$26k 90% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
| Bow and Hanover 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. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 5% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Bow 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Somersworth School District | — | Bow School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | — | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.