What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).

South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($428k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Amherst	South Berwick
People
Population	11,861Highest	7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	22.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
	South Berwick and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amherst and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	South Berwick and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S.	$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S.	$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S.	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.
	South Berwick and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#20 of 120 in NH	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Souhegan Coop High School	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.