What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).

South Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

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	Canaan	South Berwick
People
Population	3,811Lowest	7,670Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S.	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Canaan and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Canaan 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+	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Canaan 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	$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average	$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S.
	South Berwick and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S.	$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,985Highest 92% above U.S.	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Canaan and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Berwick and Canaan 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	#83 of 120 in NH	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Mascoma Valley Regional High School	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	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.