Compare towns
Dover vs Berlin 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).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Berlin | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,378Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Berlin 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. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Berlin and South Berwick 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. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Berlin and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Berlin 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | #61 of 282 in MA | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Berlin-Boylston | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.