Compare towns
Dover vs South Berwick vs Standish
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).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k 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 | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
7,670Lowest |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
40.5±2.8Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Standish 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% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest 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% |
36%Lowest 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% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Standish 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. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below 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. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below 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% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Marshwood High School | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
13.0Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| 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.