Compare towns
Madbury vs Portsmouth 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%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | Madbury | Portsmouth | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
22,545Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Portsmouth 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Portsmouth 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. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and South Berwick 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. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.