Compare towns
Nelson vs South Berwick vs Roxbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Roxbury has the shortest commute (21 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 | Nelson | South Berwick | Roxbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648 |
7,670Highest |
299Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.2±17.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Roxbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±10.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Roxbury 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 | $99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$69,226±$14kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Nelson and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$323,100±$219kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,787Highest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #58 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — |
| High school 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.