Compare towns
Somersworth vs New Ipswich vs Weare 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).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | New Ipswich | Weare | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
5,310Lowest |
9,170 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Somersworth 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% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 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 |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Weare and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Weare 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 |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$6,272 6% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and New Ipswich 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Mascenic Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Mascenic Regional High School | John Stark Regional High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.7 |
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.