Compare towns
Holderness vs South Berwick vs Center Harbor vs Madbury
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 affordable homes ($363k median).
South Berwick has the most people working from home (17.6%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | South Berwick | Center Harbor | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917 |
7,670Highest |
955Lowest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Center Harbor and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 34% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$104,313±$16k 29% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
| Madbury 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. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$463,800±$74k 39% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
— | $1,574±$759Lowest 11% 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. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$4,667 50% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Madbury 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 | Holderness School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.