Compare towns
Somersworth vs Plaistow 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 renters (42.2% rent).
Plaistow has the highest household income ($108k).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Plaistow | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,111Highest |
7,861 |
1,998Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Berwick and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5Highest 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%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plaistow and Berwick 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow 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 8% below U.S. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
| Plaistow and Berwick 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. |
$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 5% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Somersworth 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. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Timberlane Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Timberlane Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.