Compare towns
Somersworth vs Swanzey vs Lebanon 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).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
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 | Swanzey | Lebanon | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111 |
7,398Lowest |
14,999 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon 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 |
$81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Lebanon 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 |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Lebanon 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 |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey 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% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | #102 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Lebanon School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Monadnock Regional High School | Lebanon High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.7 |
12.7 |
| 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.