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 Somersworth, NH   
NH cities/towns
Community Contact Somersworth Department of Development Services
Michelle Mears, Director of Planning and Community Development
One Government Way
  Somersworth, NH 03878
 
Telephone (603) 692-9519
Fax (603) 692-9575
E-mail mmears@somersworthnh.gov
Web Site www.somersworthnh.gov
 
Municipal Office Hours City Hall, City Manager, City Clerk, Tax Collector: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 8-4:30, Wednesday, 8-6
 
County Strafford County
Labor Market Area Dover-Durham, NH-ME Metropolitan NECTA, NH portion
Tourism Region Seacoast Region
Planning Commission Strafford Regional Planning
Regional Development Southeast Economic Development Corp.
 
Election Districts
US Congress District 1 (All Wards)
Executive Council District 1
State Senate District 4 (All Wards)
State Representative Strafford County District 12 (Wards 1-5)
Incorporated: 1754
 
Origin: This territory was first settled about 1650 when it was part of Dover. It was made a separate parish in 1729, called Summersworth. In 1753, residents petitioned Governor Benning Wentworth for a separate township. The town was incorporated as Somersworth in 1754. In 1849, the town was divided nearly in half when the southern portion was incorporated as Rollinsford. Somersworth was incorporated as a city in 1893. Situated on the Salmon River, Somersworth has been home to many gristmills, sawmills, and cotton and woolen making establishments.
 
Villages and Place Names: unknown
 
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 943 residents in 1790
 
Population Trends: Population change for Somersworth totaled 2,841 over 50 years, from 9,026 in 1970 to 11,867 in 2020. The largest decennial percent change was a 15 percent increase from 1970 to 1980. The city's population increased by one percent from 2010 to 2020.
 
Population Density and Land Area: 2023 (US Census Bureau): 1,244.1 persons per square mile of land area. Somersworth contains 9.8 square miles of land area and 0.2 square miles of inland water area.
 
 
 


Municipal Services
Type of Government City Manager & Council
Budget:Municipal Appropriations,2021-2022 $24,245,354
Budget:School Appropriations,2021-2022 $31,969,747
Zoning Ordinance 1953/21
Master Plan 2010/2024
Capital Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
 
Boards and Commissions
    Elected: City Council
    Appointed: Planning; Zoning; Conservation; Library; Cemetery; HDC
 
Public Library Somersworth Public



Emergency Services
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time & volunteer
Emergency Medical Service Private
 
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Wentworth-Douglass, Dover 4 miles   173
Frisbie Memorial, Rochester 6 miles   27


 
Utilities
Electric Supplier Eversource Energy
Natural Gas Supplier Unitil
Water Supplier Municipal
 
Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal
    Curbside Trash Pickup Municipal
    Pay-As-You-Throw Program Yes
    Recycling Program Voluntary
 
Telephone Company Consolidated Communications
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service: Business Yes
High Speed Internet Service: Resident Yes
 


Property Taxes (NH Dept. of Revenue Administration)
2023 Total Tax Rate $29.30
2023 Equalization Ratio 54.1
2023 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $15.76
 
2023 Percent of Local Assessed Valuation by Property Type
    Residential Land and Buildings 74.0%
    Commercial Land and Buildings 24.0%
    Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other 1.9%

 
Housing (ACS 2018-2022)
Total Housing Units 5,701
 
Single-Family Units,Detached or Attached 2,745
 
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:
    Two to Four Units in Structure 1,588
    Five or More Units in Structure 962
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 406




Population(1-Year Estimates/Decennial) (US Census Bureau)
Total Population Community County
   2023 12,192   133,243
   2020 11,867   130,889
   2010 11,768   123,143
   2000 11,494   112,233
   1990 11,200   104,233
   1980 10,350   85,408

 
Demographics American Community Survey (ACS 2018-2022)
Population by Gender
Male   6,089 Female   5,905
Population by Age Group
      Under Age 5 459
      Age 5 to 19 1,896
      Age 20 to 34 3,112
      Age 35 to 54 3,112
      Age 55 to 64 1,667
      Age 65 and over 1,748
            Median Age 38.1 years


Educational Attainment, population age 25 or older 8,963
      High school graduation or higher 94.6%
      Bachelor's degree or higher 27.8%
 
Income, Inflation Adjusted $   (ACS 2018-2022)
Per Capita Income $39,754
Median Family Income $82,639
Median Household Income $75,841
 
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
      Male $57,637
      Female $49,605
 
Individuals below poverty level 8.7%
 
Labor Force   (NHES - ELMI)

Annual Average 2013 2023
    Civilian Labor Force 6,594   6,740
    Employed 6,250   6,601
    Unemploymed 344   139
    Unemployment rate 5.2%   2.1%

 
Employment & Wages   (NHES-ELMI)
Annual Average Covered Employment 2013 2023
Good-Producing Industries  
    Average Employment  1,248  877
    Average Weekly Wage  $1,033  $1,336
 
Service-Providing Industries  
    Average Employment  3,888  4,233
    Average Weekly Wage  $736  $1,181
 
Total Private  
    Average Employment  5,137  5,110
    Average Weekly Wage  $808  $1,208
 
Government(Federal, State, Local)  
    Average Employment  533  471
    Average Weekly Wage  $746  $1,088
 
Total, Private Industry plus Government  
    Average Employment  5,669  5,580
    Average Weekly Wage  $802  $1,198
 
If "n" appears, data do not meet disclosure standards.




Education and Child Care NH Department of Education, 2023
Schools Students Attend: Somersworth operates grades K-12 District: SAU 56
Career Technology Center: Somersworth Career Technical Center
 
Educational Facilities(includes Charter Schools) Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 2 1 1 2
Grade Levels P K 1-5 6-8 9-12 P K 1-12
Total Enrollment 616 309 406 231
       
Nearest Community/Technical College: Great Bay
Nearest College or Universities: University of NH

2023 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (DHHS-Bureau of Child Care Licensing)   Total Facilities:     5   Capacity:     346

Largest Businesses Product/Service Employees Established
Contitech Manufacture of high performance silicone rubber hose 450
Somersworth School Department Education 334
Wal-Mart Retail store 291
Market Basket Supermarket 253
Velcro Hook & loop products 199
Target Retail Store 145
The Works Athletic Club Physical fitness, wellness center 139
City of Somersworth Municipal services 124
General Linen Laundry facility 120
J Pac Medical contract packaging 95
 
Employer Information Supplied by Municipality
 
Transportation (distance estimated from city/town hall)
Road Access US Routes:
State Routes: 16A, 16B, 108, 236
Nearest Interstate/Exit: Spaulding Tpk., Exit 9; I-95, Exit 5
Distance: 4 miles; 17 miles
 
Railroad Boston & Maine
Public Transportation COAST
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
    Skyhaven, Rochester Runway  4,200 ft. asphalt
    Lighted?  Yes Navigation Aids?  Yes
 
Nearest Airport With Scheduled Service
    Portland (ME) International Distance   46 miles
    Number of Passenger Airlines Serving Airport 8
 
Driving distance to select cities:
    Manchester, New Hampshire 44 miles
    Portland, Maine 47 miles
    Boston, Massachusetts 70 miles
    New York City, New York 281 miles
    Montreal, Quebec, Canada 279 miles
 
Commuting To Work (ACS 2018-2022)
Workers 16 years of age and over
  Drove alone, car/truck/van: 76.0%
  Carpooled, car/truck/van: 12.8%
  Used Public Transportation: 2.4%
  Walked: 0.2%
  Traveled by other means: 1.5%
  Worked at home: 7.0%
Mean Travel Time to Work: 25.1 minutes
 
Work in community of residence: 55.3%
Commute to other NH community: 31.8%
Commute out-of-state: 12.9%
Recreation, Attractions, Events
X Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
X Swimming: INDOOR FACILITY
X Swimming: OUTDOOR FACILITY
X Tennis Courts: Indoor Facility
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
X Museums
Cinemas
X Performing Arts Facilities
Tourist Attractions
X Youth Organizations (ie Scouts and 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
X Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
X Youth Sports: Hockey
Campgrounds
Fishing/Hunting
Boating/Marinas
Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
Beach or Waterfront Recreation Areas
Overnight or Day Camps

Nearest Ski Areas: Gunstock
 
Other: Pumpkin Festival; Childrens Festival; Walking Trails; Baseball/Softball Fields; Basketball Courts; Childrens Playgrounds; Indonesian Festival; River Access; Splash Pad