Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Holderness vs South 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
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k 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.
| Measure | Center Harbor | Holderness | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
1,917 |
7,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Center Harbor and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16k 29% above U.S. |
$107,863±$45kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Holderness and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 50% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,956Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Holderness 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 | — | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Holderness School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
| 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.