Compare towns
South Berwick vs Dover vs Bristol
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 homeowners (78.3%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
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 | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
33,364Highest |
3,273Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.7±5.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Bristol and South 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Bristol 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% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2Lowest 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±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$78,438±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| South Berwick and Dover 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. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$258,300±$63kLowest 22% below 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. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,310±$97Lowest 7% below 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. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,162Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest 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 | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and South 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dover School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | Dover Senior High School | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
12.7 |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.