Compare towns

Somersworth vs Hooksett vs Hanover

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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
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.

MeasureSomersworthHooksettHanover
People
Population
12,111
15,057Highest
11,685Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.4%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.4±2.7
11% below NH
41.3±1.5Highest
5% below NH
28.7±5.1Lowest
34% below NH
Hooksett 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%±2.9
NH: 18.2%
14.4%±2.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Somersworth and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
17.3%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
19.7%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
Hanover and Hooksett 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%
39.6%
NH: 40.6%
88.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2Lowest
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6
NH: 6%
36.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,504±$13kLowest
25% below NH
$117,962±$11k
19% above NH
$169,583±$36kHighest
71% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$318,400±$23kLowest
21% below NH
$407,000±$26k
about the NH average
$824,900±$61kHighest
105% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,477±$134Lowest
about the NH average
$1,661±$206
11% above NH
$2,253±$217Highest
51% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,805
about the NH average
$6,554Lowest
about the NH average
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.3%±14.7
NH: 48.2%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
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%
3.3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
80.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
73.7%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
12 yrs older than NH
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
1976
3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
3% below NH
27 minHighest
about the NH average
20 minLowest
27% below NH
Work from home
11.7%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1
NH: 16.8%
26.4%±5Highest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #117 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH #1 of 120 in NH
School district Somersworth School District Hooksett School District Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town Somersworth High School None in town Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Highest
—
10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.