Compare towns
Berwick vs Salem vs Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering BerwickSomersworth, NH
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Berwick | Salem | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,998Lowest |
30,964Highest |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest 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% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 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% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 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 |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% 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 |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Highest 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Salem School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | — | Salem High School | None in town |
| 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.