Compare towns
Holderness vs Durham 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
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
South Berwick has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Holderness | Durham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
15,080Highest |
3,381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.4±6.2Highest 6% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 34% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Durham and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$396,700±$66k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,702±$76 20% above U.S. |
| Holderness and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,523 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Holderness School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.