Compare towns

Berwick vs Hampden 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

Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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.

MeasureBerwickHampdenDover
People
Population
8,175
7,896Lowest
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±2.9
5% above U.S.
41±2.9Highest
5% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
Hampden and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
25.8%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hampden 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%
17.2%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,771±$24kLowest
17% above U.S.
$111,959±$13kHighest
39% above U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
Hampden and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$369,100±$19k
11% above U.S.
$301,300±$38kLowest
9% below U.S.
$436,700±$20kHighest
31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$430
about the U.S. average
$1,286±$317Lowest
9% below U.S.
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
Dover and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,436
42% above U.S.
$3,694Lowest
18% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
22.2%±15.1Lowest
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
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
20.2%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampden 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 #6 of 133 in ME #64 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 RSU 22 Dover School District
High school in town None in town Hampden Academy Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.8Highest
12.7Lowest
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.