Compare towns
Newfields vs Dover vs Kennebunk vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Newfields | Dover | Kennebunk | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
33,364Highest |
11,820 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields 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. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Newfields 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Dover School District | RSU 21 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.