Compare towns
Dover vs Newmarket vs Plainfield 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%).
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Newmarket | Plainfield | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
9,463 |
2,522Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.2±1.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Newmarket 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% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Plainfield 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% |
16.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Dover 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% |
49.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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. |
$100,845±$13k 25% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Newmarket 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. |
$455,000±$22kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Newmarket and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,671±$69 18% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Plainfield 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. |
$8,734Highest 180% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Newmarket School District | Plainfield School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
9.9Lowest |
— | 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.