Compare towns
Dover vs Kittery vs Keene 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%).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Kittery | Keene | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
10,473 |
22,939 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% 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. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Dover 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. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Kittery 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #81 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Kittery Public Schools | Keene School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Robert W Traip Academy | Keene High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
9.9Lowest |
12.3 |
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.