Compare towns
Dover vs South Berwick vs Milford
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 homeowners (78.3%).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($399k 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 | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
7,670Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
39±2.5Highest about the U.S. average |
36.8±2.5Lowest 5% 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%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and South Berwick 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±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$97,768±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Milford 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. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$398,800±$20kLowest 20% 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±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,661±$126 18% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Milford 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. |
$7,522 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Milford 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% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Marshwood High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
13.0Highest |
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.