Compare towns
Dover vs Lebanon vs Portsmouth 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).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | Lebanon | Portsmouth | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
14,999 |
22,545 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Portsmouth 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% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon 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% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest 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%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and South Berwick 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. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon 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. |
$8,018 157% 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%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Portsmouth 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% 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% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older 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. |
22 min 16% 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% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
11.7 |
11.4Lowest |
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.