Compare towns
Dover vs Lebanon vs Plymouth 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%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Lebanon | Plymouth | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
14,999 |
6,601Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
39±2.5Highest about the U.S. average |
| South Berwick and Lebanon 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% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Lebanon 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. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% 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. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and South Berwick 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. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$6,288 102% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Lebanon School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Lebanon High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
11.7Lowest |
12.8 |
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.