Compare towns
Lyme 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
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
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.
| Measure | Lyme | South Berwick | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
7,670 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Lyme and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±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+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest 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 | $133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 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 | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #58 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dover School District |
| High school 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 |
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.