Compare towns
Somersworth vs Lyme 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).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Lyme | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,111 |
1,710Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Somersworth 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 |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805Lowest 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% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Lyme School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | 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 |
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.