Compare towns

Berwick vs Berwick vs Salem

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berwick has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k 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.

MeasureBerwickBerwickSalem
People
Population
1,998Lowest
8,175
30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±3.6
10% above U.S.
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
44.6±2.7Highest
15% above U.S.
Salem and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±12.5
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.9%±8.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
18.6%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Salem and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Salem and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,406±$39kLowest
about the U.S. average
$94,771±$24k
17% above U.S.
$110,490±$9kHighest
37% above U.S.
Salem and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$323,300±$36kLowest
about the U.S. average
$369,100±$19k
11% above U.S.
$473,300±$16kHighest
42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,041±$901Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,452±$430
about the U.S. average
$1,625±$146Highest
15% above U.S.
Salem and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,806Lowest
22% above U.S.
$4,436
42% above U.S.
$6,992Highest
124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.9%±45.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Berwick and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
29 minLowest
10% above U.S.
Work from home
13.7%±7.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.2%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.3%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Berwick and Salem 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 #101 of 133 in ME #101 of 133 in ME #38 of 120 in NH
School district — RSU 60/MSAD 60 Salem School District
High school in town — None in town Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.2
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.