Compare towns
Dover vs South Berwick vs Wolfeboro
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).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
7,670 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Dover 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% 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. |
$4,531Lowest 45% 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% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Dover 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% 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 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Marshwood High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
13.0Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.