What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).

South Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Somersworth	South Eliot
People
Population	12,111Highest	4,203Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.4±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average	55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Somersworth and South Eliot 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%	32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S.	$99,299±$9kHighest 23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$23kLowest 4% below U.S.	$475,600±$52kHighest 43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,477±$134Lowest 5% above U.S.	$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,805Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.3%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Eliot 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Eliot 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	—
School district	Somersworth School District	—
High school in town	Somersworth High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.