Compare towns
Somersworth vs Sandown 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 affordable homes ($318k median).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Dover has the shortest commute (23 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 | Sandown | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,111 |
6,628Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
40.8±3.7Highest 6% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Sandown 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% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Sandown 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 NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Sandown 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 25% below NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Sandown and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Sandown and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Dover 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.