Compare towns
Lee vs South Berwick vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
South Berwick has the most renters (33% rent).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Lee | South Berwick | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Highest |
3,381 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.4±6.2 6% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lee and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$396,700±$66kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,702±$76Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.