Compare towns

South Berwick vs Dover vs Hampton Falls vs Berwick

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 the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($369k 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.

MeasureSouth BerwickDoverHampton FallsBerwick
People
Population
7,670
33,364Highest
2,328Lowest
8,175
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
49.5±7.3Highest
27% above U.S.
40.7±2.9
5% above U.S.
Hampton Falls 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%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±4.4
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%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%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%
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±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
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$166,157±$14kHighest
106% above U.S.
$94,771±$24kLowest
17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$772,600±$76kHighest
132% above U.S.
$369,100±$19kLowest
11% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,726±$83
22% above U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,852±$475Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,452±$430Lowest
about the U.S. average
Hampton Falls 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.
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% 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%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±46
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%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
17.6%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.2%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton Falls 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 #64 of 120 in NH — #101 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Dover School District Hampton Falls School District RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town Marshwood High School Dover Senior High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.0Highest
12.7Lowest
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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.