What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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	Hartford	South Berwick
People
Population	10,736Highest	7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S.	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Hartford and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
	South Berwick and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hartford 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	$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S.	$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S.	$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,773Highest 85% above U.S.	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Berwick and Hartford 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	#34 of 70 in VT	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	Hartford School District	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Hartford High School	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.