Compare towns
Dover vs Plaistow vs Lebanon 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%).
Plaistow has the highest household income ($108k).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 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 | Plaistow | Lebanon | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
7,861 |
14,999 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.1±3.7Highest 3% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon and Plaistow 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% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest 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. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Plaistow 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±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Dover and South Berwick 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. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Lebanon 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. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and South Berwick 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Lebanon School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Lebanon High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
11.4Lowest |
11.7 |
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.