Compare towns
Dover vs Saco vs Rockland
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).
Saco has the most homeowners (72.8%).
Rockland has the shortest commute (12 min average).
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 | Saco | Rockland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
20,819 |
7,035Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
49.3±6Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Rockland and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$56,533±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Dover and Saco 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. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$245,800±$38kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Dover and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,092±$105Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Dover and Saco 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,059Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rockland and Saco 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
12 minLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.1%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rockland and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #96 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Saco Public Schools | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Oceanside High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.