Compare towns
Somersworth vs Hillsborough vs Hanover vs Dover
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 kids (19.9% under 18).
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Hillsborough | Hanover | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
5,980Lowest |
8,479 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Hillsborough and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805 about the NH average |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hillsborough 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% |
6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Dover 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | — | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.5Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.