Compare towns

Brunswick vs Dover vs Rye

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

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.

MeasureBrunswickDoverRye
People
Population
22,336
33,364Highest
5,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40±2.8
about the U.S. average
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Rye and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.3%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,952±$6kLowest
7% below U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
Rye and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$15kLowest
13% above U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$99Lowest
4% above U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
Rye and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,756Lowest
52% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$7,519
141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brunswick and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
11% below U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye and Brunswick 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 #30 of 133 in ME #64 of 120 in NH #2 of 120 in NH
School district Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 Dover School District Rye School District
High school in town Brunswick High School Dover Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9Lowest
12.7Highest
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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.