Compare towns

Rollinsford vs Dover vs Kensington vs South Berwick

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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.

MeasureRollinsfordDoverKensingtonSouth Berwick
People
Population
2,626
33,364Highest
2,009Lowest
7,670
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.8±5.5
about the U.S. average
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
43.3±5.9Highest
11% above U.S.
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
Kensington and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±2.6
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rollinsford and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9
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
$89,500±$26kLowest
11% above U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$165,083±$18kHighest
104% above U.S.
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$398,100±$33kLowest
20% above U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$657,700±$47kHighest
98% above U.S.
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,809±$394
28% above U.S.
$1,607±$100Lowest
14% above U.S.
$1,813±$627Highest
28% above U.S.
$1,726±$83
22% above U.S.
Kensington and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,851
120% above U.S.
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$9,637Highest
209% above U.S.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±26.1
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
24.4%±38.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
South Berwick and Dover 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%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
25.9%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
19.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rollinsford and Kensington 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 #94 of 120 in NH #64 of 120 in NH — #58 of 133 in ME
School district Rollinsford School District Dover School District Kensington School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town None in town Dover Senior High School None in town Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7Lowest
—
13.0Highest
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.