Compare towns
Ashland vs Newington 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
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
South Berwick has the most people working from home (17.6%).
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 | Ashland | Newington | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
939Lowest |
7,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Newington and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Newington and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 59% above U.S. |
$6,081Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Ashland 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 | — | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Ashland School District | Newington School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
| 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.