Compare towns
Dover vs South Berwick vs Durham
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%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | South Berwick | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
7,670Lowest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
39±2.5Highest about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| South Berwick and Dover 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% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and South Berwick 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% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
| South Berwick and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Marshwood High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
13.0Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.