Compare towns

Concord vs Durham 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

Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureConcordDurhamSouth Berwick
People
Population
44,375Highest
15,080
7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±1.3Highest
5% above U.S.
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
Concord and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±1.3
U.S.: 22%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
18.7%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Concord 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+
42.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
55.1%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,902±$5kLowest
5% above U.S.
$124,056±$21kHighest
54% above U.S.
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
Durham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$350,900±$13kLowest
5% above U.S.
$504,300±$41kHighest
52% above U.S.
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,441±$43
about the U.S. average
$1,429±$143Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,726±$83Highest
22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,227
132% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
15.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
14.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Durham and South Berwick 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 #89 of 120 in NH #9 of 120 in NH #58 of 133 in ME
School district Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District Oyster River Coop School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Concord High School Oyster River High School Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.0Highest
12.3Lowest
13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.