Compare towns
South Berwick vs Hampton vs Eliot 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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
Eliot has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Hampton | Eliot | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,670 |
16,426 |
7,146Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Eliot 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest 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. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% 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±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Eliot 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. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% 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. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Eliot 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
10.1Lowest |
— | 12.7 |
| 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.