Compare towns
South Berwick vs Berwick vs Dover vs Eliot
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 (26.7% under 18).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($369k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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.
| Measure | South Berwick | Berwick | Dover | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,670 |
8,175 |
33,364Highest |
7,146Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest 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 | $99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956 59% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Dover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | 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.