What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).

North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	North Berwick
People
Population	3,273Lowest	5,129Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±5.7Highest 10% above U.S.	41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Bristol and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bristol and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bristol 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+	35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	North Berwick and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,438±$10kLowest about the U.S. average	$101,875±$16kHighest 26% above U.S.
	North Berwick and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$63kLowest 22% below U.S.	$428,500±$33kHighest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,310±$97Highest 7% below U.S.	$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Bristol and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,162Highest 33% above U.S.	$3,735Lowest 20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Berwick and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	11.8%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Berwick and Bristol 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	#79 of 120 in NH	#82 of 133 in ME
School district	Newfound Area School District	RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town	Newfound Regional High School	Noble High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.