Compare towns
Dover vs Plymouth vs Eliot 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%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Eliot | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
6,601Lowest |
7,146 |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
54%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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. |
$6,288 102% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
12.8 |
— | 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.