Compare towns
Dover vs Plaistow vs South Berwick vs Newington
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 most renters (47.3% rent).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Plaistow | South Berwick | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
7,861 |
7,670 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Newington and Plaistow 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% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington 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% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 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. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Newington and Plaistow 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. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington 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. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Plaistow 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| 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.