Compare towns

South Berwick vs Rockport 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).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
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.

MeasureSouth BerwickRockportDover
People
Population
7,670
3,675Lowest
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
48.7±3.7Highest
25% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
Kids under 18
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Rockport 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%
24.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
51.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Rockport 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.
$86,979±$16kLowest
8% above U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
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±$26kLowest
29% above U.S.
$469,000±$50kHighest
41% above U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
Rockport and Dover 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.
$1,194±$667Lowest
15% 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
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
$5,764
85% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.5%±24.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.4%±42.9
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
South Berwick and Rockport 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%
5.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.5%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.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
11 minLowest
57% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Highest
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 #8 of 133 in ME #64 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 Dover School District
High school in town Marshwood High School Camden Hills Regional H S Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.0Highest
12.6Lowest
12.7
On TownTapestry
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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.