Compare towns

Dover vs Royalton 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%).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
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.

MeasureDoverRoyaltonSouth Berwick
People
Population
33,364Highest
2,752Lowest
7,670
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
43.9±10.1Highest
13% above U.S.
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
Royalton 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%
14.4%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Royalton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Royalton 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.
$103,938±$24kHighest
29% above U.S.
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
Royalton 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.
$263,200±$73kLowest
21% below 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±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,040±$391Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,726±$83Highest
22% above U.S.
South Berwick and Dover 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.
$4,675Lowest
50% above U.S.
$4,956
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
South 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%
13%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
63.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±7.3
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Royalton 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 #48 of 70 in VT #58 of 133 in ME
School district Dover School District White River Unified School District #79 RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Dover Senior High School White River Valley High School Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7
8.7Lowest
13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.