Compare towns

Dover vs Henniker vs Norwich 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).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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.

MeasureDoverHennikerNorwichSouth Berwick
People
Population
33,364Highest
6,197
3,640Lowest
7,670
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+27.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9
5% below U.S.
31.1±6.1Lowest
20% below U.S.
40.8±3.2Highest
5% above U.S.
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
Norwich 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%
15.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±6
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dover and Henniker 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%
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
27%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
$95,206±$21k
18% above U.S.
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$356,700±$49kLowest
7% above U.S.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,081±$164Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,460±$322
3% above 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
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$8,877
185% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
43.5%±22.6
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
20 min
23% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
15.5%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Norwich and Dover 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 #56 of 120 in NH #1 of 70 in VT #58 of 133 in ME
School district Dover School District Henniker School District Norwich 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.