Compare towns

Somersworth vs Unity 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).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
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.

MeasureSomersworthUnityDover
People
Population
12,111
1,375Lowest
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.8%
NH: +4.6%
-9.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+9.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.4±2.7
11% below NH
58±4.5Highest
34% above NH
36.9±1.9Lowest
15% below NH
Kids under 18
19.9%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
12%±4.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
16.9%±1.8
NH: 18.2%
Somersworth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
34.9%±7Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.8%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.4%
NH: 40.6%
21.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
52%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2
NH: 6%
1%±0.7Lowest
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±$13kLowest
25% below NH
$87,500±$16k
12% below NH
$94,829±$7kHighest
4% below NH
Dover and Unity 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
$276,100±$29kLowest
31% below NH
$436,700±$20kHighest
8% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,477±$134Lowest
about the NH average
$1,625±$804Highest
9% above NH
$1,607±$100
8% above NH
Unity 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
$5,394Lowest
19% below NH
$8,249Highest
24% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.3%±14.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
40%±100Lowest
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%Highest
NH: 7.2%
6.3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.8%
NH: 72.8%
94.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
52.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
12 yrs older than NH
1982Highest
3 yrs newer than NH
1976
3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
3% below NH
35 minHighest
31% above NH
23 minLowest
15% below NH
Work from home
11.7%±3.5
NH: 16.8%
9.5%±4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
18.6%±2.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #117 of 120 in NH — #64 of 120 in NH
School district Somersworth School District Unity 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.