Compare towns
Berwick vs Salem vs 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%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($323k 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.
| Measure | Berwick | Salem | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175 |
30,964Highest |
1,998Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6 10% 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 | 22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5 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+ | 17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest 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 | $94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39kLowest 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. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$323,300±$36kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below 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 | $4,436 42% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest 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 | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8Lowest 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 | 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.