Compare towns
Berwick vs Dover 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 homeowners (87.4%).
Dover has the shortest commute (23 min average).
South Berwick has the oldest population (median age 41.4).
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 | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175 |
33,364Highest |
3,381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.4±6.2Highest 6% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and South 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% |
15.6%±3.9Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Dover and 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±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$396,700±$66k 19% above U.S. |
| Dover and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,702±$76Highest 20% 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. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,523 45% 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% |
55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8Lowest 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 | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.