Compare towns

Warner vs Dover vs South Berwick vs Webster

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 housing (typical home built 1975).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).

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.

MeasureWarnerDoverSouth BerwickWebster
People
Population
2,959
33,364Highest
7,670
2,227Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±4
12% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
44.7±7.6Highest
15% above U.S.
Webster and Warner 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%
22.6%±8
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Warner and Webster 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%
30.7%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%±1.4Lowest
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±$18kLowest
16% above U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
$107,171±$14kHighest
33% above U.S.
Webster and South Berwick 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.
$338,500±$30kLowest
about the U.S. average
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.
$1,396±$622
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.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,650
145% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
$6,021
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.7%±21.3
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5
U.S.: 51.1%
53.6%±71Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Webster and South Berwick 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%
9.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
96%Highest
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.
1979
1 yr 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
31 min
16% above U.S.
Work from home
16.6%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±3.9
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 —
School district Kearsarge Regional School District Dover School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town None in town Dover Senior High School Marshwood High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7Lowest
13.0Highest
—
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.