What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harrison has the oldest population (median age 56).

South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Harrison	South Berwick
People
Population	2,513Lowest	7,670Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+3.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	56±3.6Highest 25% above ME	39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME
Kids under 18	9.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1%	26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	29.8%±7.6Highest ME: 22.4%	15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	41.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.2%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	South Berwick and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,938±$6kLowest 24% below ME	$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$249,300±$70kLowest 16% below ME	$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$885±$193Lowest 22% below ME	$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,731Lowest 10% below ME	$4,956Highest 63% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.5%±24.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	South Berwick and Harrison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 24% above ME	27 minLowest 9% above ME
Work from home	22.3%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9%	17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Harrison 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	—	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 17/MSAD 17	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 History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.