Compare towns
Hampden vs Sanbornton 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
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k median).
South Berwick has the most renters (21.7% rent).
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 | Hampden | Sanbornton | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896Highest |
3,053Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
41.9±5.4Highest 8% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sanbornton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sanbornton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden 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 | $111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
$113,750±$41kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$452,300±$30kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,289±$198 9% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,731Highest 84% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #42 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | Winnisquam Regional School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 13.0Lowest |
| 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.