Compare towns
Madbury vs South Berwick vs Portsmouth vs Durham
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 the highest household income ($148k).
South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | South Berwick | Portsmouth | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
7,670 |
22,545Highest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| 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% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest 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%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below 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. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and South Berwick 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | #11 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Portsmouth School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | Portsmouth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.