Compare towns
Gray vs Epping vs South Berwick vs 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
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Berwick has the most homeowners (87.4%).
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 | Gray | Epping | South Berwick | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429Highest |
7,430Lowest |
7,670 |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Epping and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Epping and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
| Epping and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
| Epping and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #77 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Epping School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Epping High School | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
9.3Lowest |
13.0Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.