Compare towns

Kensington vs South Berwick 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

Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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.

MeasureKensingtonSouth BerwickMadbury
People
Population
2,009Lowest
7,670Highest
2,203
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±5.9Highest
11% above U.S.
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
37.7±2.1Lowest
3% below U.S.
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%
26.7%±6
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+
18.8%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
14.3%±2.6Lowest
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%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.8Lowest
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.
$99,572±$13kLowest
23% above U.S.
$148,365±$30k
84% 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.
$428,300±$26kLowest
29% above U.S.
$476,900±$31k
43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,813±$627Highest
28% above U.S.
$1,726±$83
22% above U.S.
$1,574±$759Lowest
11% 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.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.4%±38.5
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±15.2Lowest
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%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
Work from home
19.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.6Lowest
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 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

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.