Compare towns
Andover vs Plainfield vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the oldest population (median age 46).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
South Berwick has the most renters (33% 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.
| Measure | Andover | Plainfield | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,135Lowest |
2,522 |
3,381Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46±11.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±6.2 6% above U.S. |
| Andover and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,514±$27kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22k 13% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,500±$44kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$396,700±$66k 19% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,702±$76Highest 20% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962 91% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Andover School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.