Compare towns

Dover vs York vs Topsham

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).
York has the most expensive homes ($636k median).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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.

MeasureDoverYorkTopsham
People
Population
33,364Highest
13,986
9,706Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
49.5±5.2Highest
27% above U.S.
44.7±4
15% above U.S.
York and Topsham 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%
21.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
York and Topsham 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%
27.9%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
York and Topsham 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%
53.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Topsham 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.
$121,250±$25kHighest
50% above U.S.
$91,028±$10kLowest
13% above U.S.
York 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.
$636,400±$30kHighest
91% above U.S.
$360,800±$20kLowest
8% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,490±$336
5% above U.S.
$1,355±$642Lowest
4% below U.S.
Dover and York 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.
$4,658
49% above U.S.
$4,259Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
56.5%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
York 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%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
24 min
11% below U.S.
24 minHighest
11% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
26%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #64 of 120 in NH #13 of 133 in ME #66 of 133 in ME
School district Dover School District York Public Schools RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town Dover Senior High School York High School Mt Ararat High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
9.6Lowest
12.2
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.