What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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	Hanover
People
Population	12,111Highest	11,685Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.4±2.7Highest 11% below NH	28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH
Kids under 18	19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2%	14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Somersworth and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%	19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Hanover 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	88.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6%	36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH	$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH	$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average	$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH
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%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2%
	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 NH: 7.2%	5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%	73.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH	1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 3% below NH	20 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#117 of 120 in NH	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Somersworth School District	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Somersworth High School	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.