Compare towns
South Berwick vs Berwick vs Hampden vs Dover
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Hampden | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,670Lowest |
8,175 |
7,896 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
41±2.9Highest 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Hampden and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Hampden 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%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Hampden 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. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Hampden 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±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Dover and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Dover 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. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and 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% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs 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 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden and Berwick 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 22 | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | Hampden Academy | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
— | 14.8Highest |
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.