Compare towns
Berwick vs Center Harbor 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
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Center Harbor | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
955Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$104,313±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$463,800±$74kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,667 50% above U.S. |
$4,956Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | — | 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.