Compare towns

Berwick vs Lee vs North Berwick vs Plainfield

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 ($369k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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.

MeasureBerwickLeeNorth BerwickPlainfield
People
Population
8,175Highest
4,576
5,129
2,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±2.9
5% above U.S.
42.9±1.9Highest
10% above U.S.
41.6±4.7
7% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Lee and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Lee and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Lee and Plainfield 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.
$131,579±$54kHighest
63% above U.S.
$101,875±$16k
26% above U.S.
$122,656±$13k
52% above U.S.
Lee and Plainfield 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.
$480,600±$61kHighest
44% above U.S.
$428,500±$33k
29% above U.S.
$442,400±$47k
33% above U.S.
Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$430
about the U.S. average
—
$1,105±$116Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
Plainfield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,436
42% above U.S.
$9,661Highest
210% above U.S.
$3,735Lowest
20% above U.S.
$7,904
153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46
U.S.: 51.1%
38.3%±53.3
U.S.: 51.1%
66.2%±28.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
North 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
28 min
4% above U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
20.2%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Lee 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 #3 of 120 in NH #82 of 133 in ME #19 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 Oyster River Coop School District RSU 60/MSAD 60 Plainfield School District
High school in town None in town None in town Noble High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.0
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 10 photos → 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.