Compare towns
Canaan 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
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Canaan | Dover | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Lowest |
33,364Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Canaan and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canaan and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% 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 | $1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above 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 | $5,985 92% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and South 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Dover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Dover Senior High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.7 |
13.0Highest |
| 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.