Compare towns

Concord vs Dover vs Hartford 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

Concord has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hartford has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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.

MeasureConcordDoverHartfordSouth Berwick
People
Population
44,375Highest
33,364
10,736
7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±1.3
5% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
43.2±3.9Highest
11% above U.S.
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
Hartford and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±1.3
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.7%±1.5
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hartford and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,902±$5k
5% above U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$78,125±$7kLowest
3% below 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
$350,900±$13k
5% above U.S.
$436,700±$20kHighest
31% above U.S.
$304,500±$26kLowest
8% below 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
$1,441±$43
about the U.S. average
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,218±$118Lowest
14% below 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
$7,227
132% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$5,773
85% above U.S.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
South Berwick and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
18 minLowest
30% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
14.1%±1.8
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
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 #89 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH #34 of 70 in VT #58 of 133 in ME
School district Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District Dover School District Hartford School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Concord High School Dover Senior High School Hartford High School Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.0Highest
12.7
9.6Lowest
13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.