Compare towns
Madbury vs Ashland 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
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
South Berwick has the most people working from home (17.6%).
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.
| Measure | Madbury | Ashland | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203 |
2,183Lowest |
7,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Ashland and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Lowest 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+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Madbury and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,961 59% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Madbury 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 | Oyster River Coop School District | Ashland 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.