Compare towns
Warner vs Dover vs South Berwick 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
Warner has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Warner | Dover | South Berwick | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,959Lowest |
33,364Highest |
7,670 |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±4Highest 12% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
42.7±5.7 10% above U.S. |
| Warner and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest 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+ | 20.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,022±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kHighest 23% 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 | $353,100±$22k 6% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% 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 | $1,219±$123Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,310±$97 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 | $7,650 145% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$4,162Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Dover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Marshwood High School | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
13.0Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.