Compare towns

Berwick vs Bow vs Dover vs Berwick

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berwick has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

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.

MeasureBerwickBowDoverBerwick
People
Population
1,998Lowest
8,335
33,364Highest
8,175
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±3.6Highest
10% above U.S.
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
40.7±2.9
5% above U.S.
Berwick and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±12.5
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.9%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bow and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,406±$39kLowest
about the U.S. average
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$94,771±$24k
17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$323,300±$36kLowest
about the U.S. average
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$369,100±$19k
11% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,041±$901Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,452±$430
about the U.S. average
Dover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,806Lowest
22% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$4,436
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.9%±45.2
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±46Highest
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
5.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
13.7%±7.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
20.2%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow 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 #101 of 133 in ME #26 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH #101 of 133 in ME
School district — Bow School District Dover School District RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town — Bow High School Dover Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Highest
12.7Lowest
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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.