Compare towns
Somersworth vs Plymouth vs Milford 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Milford has the highest household income ($98k).
Laconia has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Milford | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
6,601Lowest |
16,337 |
17,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Somersworth 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% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,504±$13k 25% below NH |
$77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$97,768±$14kHighest about the NH average |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Milford and Plymouth 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±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$398,800±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,224±$107 18% below NH |
| Milford 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 |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$7,522Highest 13% above NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Laconia 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Milford and Laconia 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Milford School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Milford High School | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.8Highest |
10.7 |
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.