Compare towns
Dover vs Hanover vs Stratham 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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Stratham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
11,685 |
7,754 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
41.6±4.9Highest 7% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Stratham and South Berwick 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Stratham 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% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratham and Hanover 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Stratham 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. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Hanover 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hanover High School | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
10.7Lowest |
— | 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.