Compare towns
Dover vs Barrington vs Exeter 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
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Barrington has the most homeowners (87%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Dover | Barrington | Exeter | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
9,489 |
16,151 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
38.7±2.3 about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$110,323±$14k 37% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$399,100±$30kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Barrington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$7,121 128% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barrington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Barrington 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Barrington School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | 12.1Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.