Compare towns
South Berwick vs Dover vs Chichester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Berwick has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Dover has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Chichester has the most homeowners (85.6%).
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 | South Berwick | Dover | Chichester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,381 |
33,364Highest |
2,745Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±6.2 6% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43±3.3Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Chichester and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chichester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest 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 | $90,972±$22kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$109,297±$13kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Chichester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$66kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$409,300±$26k 23% above U.S. |
| Dover and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,702±$76 20% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$2,055±$275Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,189 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±34.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chichester 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 | #75 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Chichester School District |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.