Compare towns
Berwick vs Dover vs Durham vs South 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 ($369k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Berwick | Dover | Durham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
33,364Highest |
10,681 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Highest 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Berwick and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berwick and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Durham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Dover School District | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| 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.