Compare towns
Dover vs Hillsborough vs Somersworth 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%).
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
Somersworth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
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 | Hillsborough | Somersworth | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
5,980Lowest |
12,111 |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.9±4.6Highest 5% above U.S. |
38.4±2.7 about the U.S. average |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Hillsborough 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%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Somersworth 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% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Somersworth 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. |
$84,495±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$74,504±$13kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Dover 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. |
$272,300±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$318,400±$23k 4% 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. |
$1,198±$390Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,477±$134 5% 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 | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,815 86% above U.S. |
$6,805 118% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hillsborough and Somersworth 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Somersworth School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Somersworth High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
9.5Lowest |
11.4 |
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.