Compare towns
Bethel vs Dover vs Newry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the most people working from home (27.7%).
Dover has the highest household income ($95k).
Newry has the oldest population (median age 61.1).
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 | Bethel | Dover | Newry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,617 |
33,364Highest |
177Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.2±6.4 29% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
61.1±5Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Newry and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.3%±6.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.4%±14.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newry and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$23kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$67,000±$23k 17% below U.S. |
| Dover and Newry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $344,900±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$307,700±$69kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $864±$43Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,125±$666 20% below U.S. |
| Dover and Newry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,835 9% below U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$2,438Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.3%±15.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Newry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.7%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethel 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 | #49 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 44/MSAD 44 | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | Telstar High School | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.