Compare towns
Somersworth vs Plaistow vs Dover vs Claremont
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 kids (19.9% under 18).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Claremont has the most affordable homes ($205k median).
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 | Dover | Claremont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
7,861Lowest |
33,364Highest |
13,078 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.6±3.5Highest about the NH average |
| Claremont and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.8%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Claremont and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest 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±$13k 25% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$59,096±$8kLowest 40% below NH |
| Plaistow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$204,600±$17kLowest 49% below NH |
| Dover and Plaistow 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 |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,146±$83Lowest 23% below NH |
| Plaistow and Dover 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,774Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.6%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Claremont and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
13.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1957Lowest 22 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.6%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #103 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Dover School District | Claremont School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Dover Senior High School | Stevens High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
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.