Compare towns

Barrington vs Durham 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

Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureBarringtonDurhamSouth Berwick
People
Population
9,489
10,681Highest
7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±2.3
about the U.S. average
20.1±0.2Lowest
48% below U.S.
39±2.5Highest
about the U.S. average
South Berwick and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.7%±4
U.S.: 22%
6.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
South Berwick and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
70.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,323±$14k
37% above U.S.
$112,070±$25kHighest
39% above U.S.
$99,572±$13kLowest
23% above U.S.
Durham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$399,100±$30kLowest
20% above U.S.
$498,000±$45kHighest
50% above U.S.
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
Durham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,867±$194Highest
32% above U.S.
$1,302±$211Lowest
8% below U.S.
$1,726±$83
22% above U.S.
Barrington and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,121
128% 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
63.1%±25.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.4%±19.2
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Barrington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
53.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
18.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Barrington 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 #65 of 120 in NH #9 of 120 in NH #58 of 133 in ME
School district Barrington School District — RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school 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.