Compare towns
Eliot vs Kensington vs South Berwick vs Dover
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).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Kensington | South Berwick | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
2,009Lowest |
7,670 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Kensington 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% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Kensington 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% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest 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. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Kensington 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. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and South Berwick 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% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kensington 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Kensington School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0Highest |
12.7Lowest |
| 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.