Compare towns
Somersworth vs Plaistow vs New Ipswich 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | New Ipswich | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111Highest |
7,861 |
5,310Lowest |
6,040 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% 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±2.4Lowest 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%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
25.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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±$13k 25% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$56,746±$11kLowest 43% below NH |
| 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±$23k 21% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$282,900±$55kLowest 30% below NH |
| 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 about the NH average |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$940±$50 37% below NH |
| 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 about the NH average |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$5,647 15% below NH |
$4,741Lowest 29% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.8%±12.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
14 minLowest 46% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
10%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plaistow and New Ipswich 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 | #80 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Littleton School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Mascenic Regional High School | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.4 |
11.7Highest |
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.