Compare towns

Amherst vs Berwick vs Dover

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has the highest household income ($153k).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($369k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).

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.

MeasureAmherstBerwickDover
People
Population
11,861
8,175Lowest
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±3.5Highest
18% above U.S.
40.7±2.9
5% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
Amherst and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.4%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Berwick and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.2%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Amherst and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
65.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,196±$10kHighest
90% above U.S.
$94,771±$24kLowest
17% above U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$537,600±$30kHighest
62% above U.S.
$369,100±$19kLowest
11% above U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,462±$256
3% above U.S.
$1,452±$430Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
Dover and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,773Highest
213% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$8,249
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Berwick and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
32.4%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.2%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Amherst and Berwick 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 #20 of 120 in NH #101 of 133 in ME #64 of 120 in NH
School district Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District RSU 60/MSAD 60 Dover School District
High school in town Souhegan Coop High School None in town Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
—
12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.