Compare towns

Dover vs St. Albans vs South Berwick vs Newington

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).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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.

MeasureDoverSt. AlbansSouth BerwickNewington
People
Population
33,364Highest
6,954
7,670
939Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
38.7±2
about the U.S. average
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
48.7±10.1Highest
25% above U.S.
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%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±4.9Lowest
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%
15.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
28%±11Highest
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%
41.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.4%Highest
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%
4.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
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.
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
$145,833±$46kHighest
81% 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.
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
$861,600±$46kHighest
159% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,150±$78Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,726±$83
22% above U.S.
$2,292±$795Highest
62% 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.
$4,956
59% above U.S.
$6,081
95% 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%
53.5%±24.5
U.S.: 51.1%
62.9%±44Highest
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%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
49%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
23 min
12% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.4Lowest
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 RSU 35/MSAD 35 Newington School District
High school in town Dover Senior High School Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) Marshwood High School None in town
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.