Compare towns
White River Junction vs Dover vs Somersworth vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Somersworth has the oldest population (median age 38.4).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | White River Junction | Dover | Somersworth | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
33,364Highest |
12,111 |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
38.4±2.7Highest about the U.S. average |
30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Somersworth and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13k 8% below U.S. |
$55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$318,400±$23k 4% below U.S. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,477±$134 5% above U.S. |
$948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Dover and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
$3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Somersworth and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and White River Junction 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Somersworth School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | Somersworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.