Compare towns
South Berwick vs Dover vs Canterbury
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
33,364Highest |
2,353Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.6±3.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Canterbury 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% |
22.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canterbury and Dover 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. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$129,333±$37kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Canterbury 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±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$443,700±$21kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Canterbury 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. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$2,136±$233Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$7,421 138% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
71.7%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canterbury 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canterbury 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dover School District | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | 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 |
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.