Compare towns
Dover vs Lyme vs South Berwick vs Portsmouth
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%).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | Lyme | South Berwick | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,710Lowest |
7,670 |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Portsmouth 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% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and South Berwick 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. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Lyme 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. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and South Berwick 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Lyme 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Lyme School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Marshwood High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | 13.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.