Compare towns
Hanover vs South Berwick vs Kennebunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Kennebunk has the oldest population (median age 54.6).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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.
| Measure | Hanover | South Berwick | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685 |
7,670Lowest |
11,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Marshwood High School | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
13.0Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.