Overall score
Dover
43.0/100
Lymington
38.8/100
Dover for retirees and families; Lymington for investment and value.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Dover
43.0/100
Lymington
38.8/100
Crime rate
Dover
22.8 / 1k
Lymington
22.8 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Dover
24
Lymington
3
Population
Dover
923
Lymington
319
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Dover | Lymington |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 43.0/100 | 38.8/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 51.2/100 | 56.9/100 |
| Crime rate | 22.8 / 1k | 22.8 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 1 | — |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 2 | — |
| Public transport stops | 1 | — |
| Walkability | 43.5/100 | 0.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 24 | 3 |
| Green cover | 4.7% | 2.2% |
| Population | 923 | 319 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 2/10 | 7/10 |
Dover reads as a coastal smaller community with an easy, sea-led rhythm; Lymington is a coastal smaller community shaped by beach life and outdoor living.
Dover pulls ahead on walkability, nearby cafés and amenities, and a larger local community, whereas Lymington is the better pick for housing affordability, overall desirability, and stronger socioeconomic advantage. Dover generally means more approachable housing costs, while Lymington leans toward housing toward the upper end of the market.
Choose Dover if you are weighing people chasing a beach lifestyle and households prioritising schools; lean toward Lymington for retirees, families, investors, and value-focused buyers.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.