Compare towns
Somersworth vs Hanover vs Durham vs Milford
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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Somersworth | Hanover | Durham | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
11,685Lowest |
15,080 |
16,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7Highest 11% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
| Somersworth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Milford 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% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Hanover and Durham 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 11.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Hanover High School | Oyster River High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.