Compare towns
Somersworth vs Plaistow vs Dover vs Littleton
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%).
Littleton has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
7,861 |
33,364Highest |
6,040Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38±7.4 12% below NH |
| Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±4.4 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% |
18.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Littleton 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% |
25.8%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% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$56,746±$11kLowest 43% 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 |
$282,900±$55kLowest 30% 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 |
$940±$50Lowest 37% 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 |
$4,741Lowest 29% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.8%±12.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
14 minLowest 46% 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% |
10%±3.5Lowest 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 | #80 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Dover School District | Littleton School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Dover Senior High School | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.4 |
12.7Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.