What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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	Bedford	South Berwick
People
Population	23,746Highest	7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S.	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
	South Berwick and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bedford 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+	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bedford 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	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.	$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.	$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.	$1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bedford and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#7 of 120 in NH	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	Bedford School District	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Bedford High School	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	13.0Lowest
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.