Compare towns
Dover vs North Berwick vs Kennebunk vs Keene
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%).
North Berwick has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | North Berwick | Kennebunk | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
5,129Lowest |
11,820 |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.6±4.7 7% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Berwick and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$101,875±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Kennebunk and North 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. |
$428,500±$33k 29% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Dover and Kennebunk 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. |
$3,735Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | #82 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 21 | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Noble High School | Kennebunk High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.0 |
11.6Lowest |
12.3 |
| 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.