Compare towns
Somersworth vs Plaistow vs New Ipswich 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 most expensive homes ($405k median).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | New Ipswich | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111Highest |
7,861 |
5,310 |
1,998Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 about the U.S. average |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
36.9±2.4Lowest 5% below 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% |
29.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5 U.S.: 22% |
| New Ipswich and Berwick 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% |
17.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.3%±3Lowest 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% |
32.1% 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% |
2.6%±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±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$110,507±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
| New Ipswich and Plaistow 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. |
$392,400±$31k 18% above U.S. |
$323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
| Plaistow and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 5% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$882±$469Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,041±$901 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. |
$5,647 81% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±41.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Ipswich and Somersworth 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer 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. |
33 min 23% 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% |
12%±4.8 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Mascenic Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.