Compare towns

Holderness vs South Berwick vs Lebanon

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 highest household income ($108k).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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.

MeasureHoldernessSouth BerwickLebanon
People
Population
1,917Lowest
7,670
14,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±7.4Highest
about the U.S. average
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
38.9±3.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
Holderness and South Berwick 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%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.4Lowest
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%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lebanon 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
$107,863±$45kHighest
34% above U.S.
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
$98,147±$10kLowest
22% above U.S.
Holderness and South Berwick 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±$26kHighest
29% above U.S.
$385,400±$29k
16% above U.S.
South Berwick and Lebanon 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±$83Lowest
22% above U.S.
$1,744±$132
23% above U.S.
Holderness and Lebanon 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.
$8,149Highest
161% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.5%±21.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
South Berwick and Lebanon 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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
Work from home
9.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lebanon 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 #29 of 120 in NH
School district Holderness School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Lebanon School District
High school in town None in town Marshwood High School Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.0Highest
11.7Lowest
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.