Compare towns
Dover vs South Berwick vs Lebanon vs Portsmouth
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).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | South Berwick | Lebanon | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
7,670Lowest |
14,999 |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth 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% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon 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% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth 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±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon 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. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Portsmouth 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Portsmouth 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Marshwood High School | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
13.0Highest |
11.7 |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.