Compare towns
Eliot vs Dover vs Greenland 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
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Greenland has the most people working from home (32.2%).
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 | Eliot | Dover | Greenland | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
33,364Highest |
4,106Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.4±7.7 24% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Greenland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Greenland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Greenland and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 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 | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$162,837±$11kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$662,800±$42kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$2,331±$363Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Greenland and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,420 138% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.3%±44.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Greenland and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #10 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dover School District | Greenland School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None 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.



