Compare towns
Somersworth vs Rye vs Littleton vs Dover
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Littleton has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Rye | Littleton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
5,611Lowest |
6,040 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
38±7.4 12% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
25.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Somersworth 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 |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$56,746±$11kLowest 43% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Rye and Dover 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$282,900±$55kLowest 30% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$940±$50Lowest 37% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Rye and Dover 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$4,741Lowest 29% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.8%±12.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Dover 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% |
6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
14 minLowest 46% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
10%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #80 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Rye School District | Littleton School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | None in town | Littleton High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 7.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.