Compare towns
Dover vs Grantham vs Cornish 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).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Grantham | Cornish | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,465 |
1,816Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.4±7.5 30% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Cornish and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Grantham 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% |
17%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$106,403±$54kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Grantham 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±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$343,100±$39k 3% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69kLowest 11% 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 | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
— | $1,221±$227Lowest 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 | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,605 144% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 40.5%±38.1Lowest 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% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% 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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #6 of 120 in NH | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Grantham School District | Cornish School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | 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.