Compare towns

Dover vs Springfield vs Kittery

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%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Kittery has the most people working from home (22.7%).

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.

MeasureDoverSpringfieldKittery
People
Population
33,364Highest
1,122Lowest
10,473
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
46.8±2.3
20% above U.S.
Springfield and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dover and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Kittery 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.
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
Springfield 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.
$384,100±$50kLowest
15% above U.S.
$468,500±$31kHighest
41% above U.S.
Kittery and Dover 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.
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,716±$224Highest
21% above U.S.
Kittery 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.
$5,946
91% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Dover and Kittery 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%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Kittery 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 — #17 of 133 in ME
School district Dover School District — Kittery Public Schools
High school in town Dover Senior High School — Robert W Traip Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
—
9.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.