Compare towns
Eliot vs Dover vs Hampton 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 highest household income ($102k).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
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 | Hampton | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
33,364Highest |
16,426 |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% 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% |
3.1%±1.1 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±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Berwick 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. |
$6,813 118% 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% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% 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. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
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% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Dover 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dover School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Winnacunnet High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
10.1Lowest |
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.