Compare towns
Berwick vs South Berwick vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($369k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | South Berwick | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175 |
7,670Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% ME: +2.6% |
+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 9% below ME |
39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.8% ME: 36.2% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and South 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 27% above ME |
$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME |
$88,024±$11kLowest 18% above ME |
| South Berwick 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±$19kLowest 24% above ME |
$428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 27% above ME |
$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
$1,350±$297Lowest 19% above ME |
| South Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436 46% above ME |
$4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$3,215Lowest 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| 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% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% ME: 74.3% |
78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 20% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.