Compare towns

Dover vs St. Albans vs Newington vs South Berwick

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%).
St. Albans has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureDoverSt. AlbansNewingtonSouth Berwick
People
Population
33,364Highest
6,954
939Lowest
7,670
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
38.7±2
about the U.S. average
48.7±10.1Highest
25% above U.S.
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
Newington 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%
20.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
13.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28%±11Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Newington and Dover 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%
31.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9
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.
$57,980±$7kLowest
28% below U.S.
$145,833±$46kHighest
81% above U.S.
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
Newington 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.
$263,400±$18kLowest
21% below U.S.
$861,600±$46kHighest
159% above U.S.
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,150±$78Lowest
19% below U.S.
$2,292±$795Highest
62% above U.S.
$1,726±$83
22% above U.S.
Newington and South Berwick 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.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$6,081
95% above U.S.
$4,956
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.8%±11.8
U.S.: 51.1%
62.9%±44Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Newington 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
19.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
49%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
23 min
12% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
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 #46 of 70 in VT — #58 of 133 in ME
School district Dover School District Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 Newington School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Dover Senior High School Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) None in town Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7
11.4Lowest
—
13.0Highest
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.