Compare towns

Somersworth vs Hooksett vs Newfields 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 affordable homes ($318k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Dover has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

MeasureSomersworthHooksettNewfieldsDover
People
Population
12,111
15,057
2,023Lowest
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.3%
NH: +4.6%
+9.2%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.4±2.7
11% below NH
41.3±1.5
5% below NH
44.1±1.8Highest
about the NH average
36.9±1.9Lowest
15% below NH
Newfields and Hooksett 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%
18.9%±1.6
NH: 18.2%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Somersworth and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14%±3
NH: 20.1%
17.3%±2.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
16.8%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
Hooksett 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%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
39.6%
NH: 40.6%
68.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
52%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2Lowest
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
7.5%±7.2
NH: 6%
6.2%±1.2
NH: 6%
Hooksett and Newfields 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
25% below NH
$117,962±$11k
19% above NH
$197,885±$15kHighest
100% above NH
$94,829±$7k
4% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$318,400±$23kLowest
21% below NH
$407,000±$26k
about the NH average
$646,400±$34kHighest
61% above NH
$436,700±$20k
8% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,477±$134Lowest
about the NH average
$1,661±$206
11% above NH
$1,875±$323Highest
26% above NH
$1,607±$100
8% above NH
Newfields and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,805
about the NH average
$6,554Lowest
about the NH average
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,249
24% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.3%±14.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
43.3%±40.8
NH: 48.2%
48.6%±6.3
NH: 48.2%
Somersworth and Dover 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%
NH: 7.2%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.8%
NH: 72.8%
80.6%
NH: 72.8%
95.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
52.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
12 yrs older than NH
1988
9 yrs newer than NH
1991Highest
12 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
26 min
4% below NH
23 minLowest
15% below NH
Work from home
11.7%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1
NH: 16.8%
25.5%±3.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
18.6%±2.5
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #117 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH — #64 of 120 in NH
School district Somersworth School District Hooksett School District Newfields School District Dover School District
High school in town Somersworth High School None in town None in town Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
— —
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.