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Community Profiles

Somersworth, NH


somersworth New Hampshire Community Profile 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
Labor Market Area Dover-Durham, NH-ME Metropolitan NECTA
Tourism Region Seacoast
Planning Commission Strafford Regional
Regional Development Southeast Economic Development Corp.

Election Districts
US Congress District District 1 (All Wards)
Executive Council District District 1
State Senate District 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 2022 Census estimate for Somersworth was 12,159 residents, which ranked 25th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density and Land Area, 2022 (US Census Bureau): 1,239.4 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 $14,400,675
Budget: School Appropriations, 2021-2022 $27,680,522
Zoning Ordinance 1953/21
Master Plan 2010
Capitol 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 PickupMunicipal
Pay-As-You-Throw ProgramYes
Recycling ProgramVoluntary
Telephone Company Consolidated Communications
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service:
BusinessYes
ResidentialYes

(NH Dept. of Revenue Administration) Property Taxes
2022 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $28.09
2022 Equalization Ratio 66.6
2022 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $18.60
2022 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings74.1%
Commercial Land and Buildings24.0%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other1.9%

(ACS 2017-2021) Housing
Total Housing Units 5,541
Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached 2,665
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:  
Two to Four Units in Structure 1,563
Five or More Units in Structure 964
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 349
(US Census Bureau) Population
(1-Year Estimates/Decennial)
Total Population Community County
2022 12,159 132,275
2020 11,855 130,889
2010 11,766 123,143
2000 11,505 112,676
1990 11,200 104,348
1980 10,350 85,408
 
Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021
Population by Gender
Male:   6,131 Female:   5,833
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 311
Age 5 to 19 2,319
Age 20 to 34 2,514
Age 35 to 54 3,358
Age 55 to 64 1,763
Age 65 and over 1,699
Median Age 39.7 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over 8,897
High school graduate or higher 93.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher 25.1%

(ACS 2017-2021) Income, Inflation Adjusted $
Per capita income $33,977
Median family income $76,612
Median household income $68,762
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $51,212
Female $43,750
Individuals below the poverty level 10.9%

(NHES - ELMI) Labor Force
Annual Average 2012 2022
Civilian Labor Force 6,578 6,872
Employed 6,216 6,712
Unemployed 362 160
Unemployment Rate 5.5% 2.3%

(NHES - ELMI) Employment & Wages
Annual Average Covered Employment 2012 2022
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 1,168 847
Average Weekly Wage $1,068 $1,260
     
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 3,845 4,086
Average Weekly Wage $715 $1,105
     
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 5,013 4,932
Average Weekly Wage $797 $1,131
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 536 460
Average Weekly Wage $719 $1,048
     
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment 5,549 5,393
Average Weekly Wage $789 $1,124

If "n" appears, data does not meet disclosure standards.


(NH Dept. of Education) Education and Child Care
Schools students attend: Somersworth operates grades K-12 SAU 56
Career Technology Center(s): 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 9-12
Total Enrollment 592 342 386 200
2022 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): Total Facilities: 5 Total Capacity: 346
Nearest Community/Technical College: Great Bay
Nearest Colleges or Universities: University of NH

Largest Businesses Product/Service Employees Established
Aclara Manufacturing, meter control division 400
Contitech Manufacture of high performance silicone rubber hose 450
J Pac Medical contract packaging 95
Wal-Mart Retail store 291
Somersworth School Department Education 334
Market Basket Supermarket 253
City of Somersworth Municipal services 124
Velcro Hook & loop products 199
The Works Athletic Club Physical fitness, wellness center 139
General Linen Laundry facility 120

Employer Information Supplied by Municipality


(Distance estimated from city/town hall) Transportation
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, RochesterRunway4,200 ft. asphalt
Lighted? Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Portland (ME) International Distance 46 miles
Number of Passenger Airlines Serving Airport 8
 
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH 44 miles
Portland, ME 47 miles
Boston, MA 70 miles
New York City, NY 281 miles
Montreal, Quebec 279 miles

(ACS 2017-2021) Commuting to Work
Workers 16 years and over 6,629
Drove alone, car/truck/van 75.8%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 13.5%
Public transportation 2.2%
Walked 1.1%
Other Means 1.8%
Worked at home 5.5%
Mean Travel Time to Work 24.5 minutes
 
Percent of Working Residents: (ACS 2017-2021)
Working in community of residence 21.3%
Commuting to another NH community 68.8%
Commuting out-of-state 9.9%
Recreation, Attractions, and 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 (i.e., Scouts, 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 Recreational Area
Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Gunstock
   
Other: Pumpkin Festival; Childrens Festival; Walking Trails; Baseball/Softball Fields; Basketball Courts; Childrens Playgrounds; Indonesian Festival; River Access; Splash Pad

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, October 2023. Community Response Received 5/12/22

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

 

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