Compare towns
Somersworth vs Plymouth vs Claremont vs Laconia
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).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Claremont has the most affordable homes ($205k median).
Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Claremont | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
6,601Lowest |
13,078 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
42.6±3.5 about the NH average |
45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Laconia and Claremont 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% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Claremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.8%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia and Claremont 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% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
27.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,504±$13k 25% below NH |
$77,027±$26kHighest 22% below NH |
$59,096±$8kLowest 40% below NH |
$73,218±$12k 26% below NH |
| Plymouth and Somersworth 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 |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$204,600±$17kLowest 49% below NH |
$340,300±$16kHighest 15% below NH |
| Laconia and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134Highest about the NH average |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,146±$83 23% below NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805Highest about the NH average |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$5,774 13% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.6%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
13.5% NH: 7.2% |
12.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.2% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1957Lowest 22 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
8.6%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Laconia and Somersworth 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #103 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Claremont School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Stevens High School | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.8Highest |
12.7 |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.