Compare towns
Somersworth vs Stratham vs Hooksett 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).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Stratham | Hooksett | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
7,754Lowest |
15,057 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Stratham and Hooksett 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Hooksett 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Dover 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 |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805 about the NH average |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hooksett School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | None in town | 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 | 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.