Compare towns
Barnstead vs Berwick vs Dover vs Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Barnstead | Berwick | Dover | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
1,998Lowest |
33,364Highest |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$323,300±$36kLowest about the U.S. average |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Eliot 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Barnstead School District | — | Dover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.