Compare towns
Somersworth vs Lyme vs Durham vs Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Lyme | Durham | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
1,710Lowest |
15,080Highest |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 about the U.S. average |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Durham 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. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
| Somersworth and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Berwick 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.