Compare towns
Dover vs Center Harbor vs Plainfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Center Harbor | Plainfield | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
955Lowest |
2,522 |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Plainfield 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% |
39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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. |
$104,313±$16k 29% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Center Harbor 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. |
$463,800±$74kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor and Plainfield 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. |
— | $1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Plainfield 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. |
$4,667Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 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 | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Plainfield School District | 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 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.