Compare towns
Swanzey vs Somersworth 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
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Swanzey | Somersworth | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398Lowest |
12,111 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest 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+ | 24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 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 | $81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
| Dover and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest 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 | 7.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Somersworth School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Monadnock Regional High School | Somersworth High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.7 |
| 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.