What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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	Haverhill
People
Population	12,111Lowest	67,698Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.4±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average	39.4±1.1Highest about the U.S. average
	Haverhill and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Haverhill and Somersworth 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%	15.5%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Haverhill 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 U.S.: 35.7%	32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Somersworth and Haverhill 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 8% below U.S.	$88,326±$4kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Haverhill and Somersworth 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.	$453,900±$9kHighest 36% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,477±$134Lowest 5% above U.S.	$1,668±$49Highest 18% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,805Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,772Lowest 53% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.3%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	60.2%±5.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Haverhill and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	62.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Haverhill and Somersworth 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	#243 of 282 in MA
School district	Somersworth School District	Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Somersworth High School	Haverhill High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.