Compare towns
Suncook vs Plaistow vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suncook has the most people working from home (15.5%).
Plaistow has the highest household income ($108k).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Suncook | Plaistow | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,432Lowest |
7,861 |
12,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±8.1Lowest 12% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Plaistow and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Suncook 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% |
34.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,836±$25k 19% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Plaistow and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,100±$22k 10% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Plaistow and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,975 5% above NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±21.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Suncook and Plaistow 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 | — | #66 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Timberlane Regional School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | — | Timberlane Regional High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
11.4 |
| 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.