Compare towns
Dover vs Ogunquit 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 the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Portsmouth has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Ogunquit | Portsmouth | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,379Lowest |
22,545 |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest 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. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Portsmouth 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
— | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% 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 | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Portsmouth School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | Portsmouth High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | 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.