Compare towns

Lee vs South Berwick vs Sanbornton

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 kids (26.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureLeeSouth BerwickSanbornton
People
Population
4,576
7,670Highest
3,053Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.9Highest
10% above U.S.
39±2.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.9±5.4
8% above U.S.
Lee and Sanbornton 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%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.1%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick 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%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.5%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Lee and Sanbornton 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%
41.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lee 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
$131,579±$54kHighest
63% above U.S.
$99,572±$13kLowest
23% above U.S.
$113,750±$41k
41% above U.S.
Lee and Sanbornton 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.
$428,300±$26kLowest
29% above U.S.
$452,300±$30k
36% above U.S.
Lee and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,726±$83Highest
22% above U.S.
$1,289±$198Lowest
9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,661Highest
210% above U.S.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
$5,731
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.3%±53.3
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.3%±23.5Lowest
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%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
Work from home
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
15.8%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lee 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 #3 of 120 in NH #58 of 133 in ME #42 of 120 in NH
School district Oyster River Coop School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Winnisquam Regional 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 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.