Compare towns
Bennington vs Hermon 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
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
South Berwick has the most expensive 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.
| Measure | Bennington | Hermon | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
6,727 |
7,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Highest 8% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7 6% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Bennington and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hermon 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+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hermon 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 | $83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$96,629±$22k 20% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$333,600±$32k about the U.S. average |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,406±$202 about the U.S. average |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Bennington 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 | — | #54 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Hermon Public Schools | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hermon High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
13.0Lowest |
| 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.