Compare towns
Barnstead vs Newfields 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
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Barnstead | Newfields | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
2,023Lowest |
7,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead 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+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Newfields and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Newfields 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.