Compare towns

Hampton 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

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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.

MeasureHamptonSouth BerwickDover
People
Population
16,426
7,670Lowest
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
Kids under 18
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.1Lowest
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
$95,233±$9k
18% above U.S.
$99,572±$13kHighest
23% above U.S.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
South Berwick and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$550,200±$39kHighest
65% above U.S.
$428,300±$26kLowest
29% above U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,628±$94
15% above U.S.
$1,726±$83Highest
22% above U.S.
$1,607±$100Lowest
14% above U.S.
South Berwick and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,813
118% above U.S.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
21.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
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 #31 of 120 in NH #58 of 133 in ME #64 of 120 in NH
School district Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Dover School District
High school in town Winnacunnet High School Marshwood High School Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.1Lowest
13.0Highest
12.7
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.