Compare towns
Berwick vs Hanover 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 the most homeowners (87.4%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
South Berwick has the most renters (33% rent).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175 |
11,685Highest |
3,381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
41.4±6.2Highest 6% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and South 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% |
19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$396,700±$66k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,702±$76 20% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,523 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.