Compare towns

Dover vs Sutton 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 the most renters (47.3% rent).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
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.

MeasureDoverSuttonSouth Berwick
People
Population
33,364Highest
2,239Lowest
7,670
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
48.1±4.1Highest
24% above U.S.
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
16.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Sutton 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%
21.6%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
$130,313±$31kHighest
61% above U.S.
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
Sutton 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.
$362,600±$16kLowest
9% above U.S.
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
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±$100Lowest
14% above U.S.
$1,656±$614
17% above U.S.
$1,726±$83Highest
22% above U.S.
South Berwick and Sutton 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.
$7,652
145% above U.S.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±47.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Highest
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%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±5.6Lowest
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 — #58 of 133 in ME
School district Dover School District Kearsarge Regional School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Dover Senior High School Kearsarge Regional High School Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7
10.4Lowest
13.0Highest
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.