Compare towns
Kensington vs Madbury 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
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Kensington | Madbury | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,203 |
7,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kensington and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6 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+ | 18.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kensington and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30k 84% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,574±$759Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Kensington and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637 209% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kensington 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 | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
| 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.