What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k 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	South Berwick
People
Population	3,273Lowest	7,670Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±5.7Highest 10% above U.S.	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Bristol and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
	South Berwick and Bristol 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%	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bristol and South 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	South 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	$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S.
	South 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.	$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,310±$97Lowest 7% below U.S.	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,162Lowest 33% above U.S.	$4,956Highest 59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	South 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%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	11.8%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	South 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	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	Newfound Area School District	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Newfound Regional High School	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	13.0Highest
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.