Compare towns
Somersworth vs Portsmouth 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 affordable homes ($318k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Portsmouth | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,111 |
22,545Highest |
8,175Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Berwick 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Portsmouth 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% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Somersworth and Portsmouth 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. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Berwick 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. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 5% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805 118% above U.S. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somersworth and Berwick 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Berwick 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Portsmouth School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.