Compare towns
Somersworth vs Hanover vs Durham vs Pembroke
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).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% 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 | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
11,685 |
15,080Highest |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
| Pembroke and Somersworth 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% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke 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% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Pembroke 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% |
32.2% 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% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| 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 |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below 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 |
$7,589 14% 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% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 11.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 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 | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Hanover High School | Oyster River High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
10.7Lowest |
12.3 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.