Compare towns

Newington vs South Berwick vs Dover vs Hampton Falls

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hampton Falls has the most people working from home (21.8%).

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.

MeasureNewingtonSouth BerwickDoverHampton Falls
People
Population
939Lowest
7,670
33,364Highest
2,328
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.7±10.1
25% above U.S.
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
49.5±7.3Highest
27% above U.S.
Hampton Falls and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.7%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28%±11Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Newington and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1Lowest
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
$145,833±$46k
81% above U.S.
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
$166,157±$14kHighest
106% above U.S.
Hampton Falls and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$861,600±$46kHighest
159% above U.S.
$428,300±$26kLowest
29% above U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$772,600±$76k
132% above U.S.
Newington and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,292±$795Highest
62% above U.S.
$1,726±$83
22% above U.S.
$1,607±$100Lowest
14% above U.S.
$1,852±$475
31% above U.S.
Newington and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,081
95% above U.S.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.9%±44Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Newington and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
12% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
Work from home
8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton Falls 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 — #58 of 133 in ME #64 of 120 in NH —
School district Newington School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Dover School District Hampton Falls School District
High school in town None in town Marshwood High School Dover Senior High School None in town
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.