Compare towns
Dover vs Waterbury vs White River Junction 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
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k 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.
| Measure | Dover | Waterbury | White River Junction | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
5,405 |
3,364Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
43.2±3.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Waterbury 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%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Waterbury 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% |
19.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waterbury 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% |
54.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$103,917±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Waterbury 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. |
$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Waterbury 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. |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above 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. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | #20 of 70 in VT | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dover School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
— | — | 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.