Compare towns
Newington vs South Berwick vs South Hampton vs Franconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Newington | South Berwick | South Hampton | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
7,670Highest |
984 |
1,060 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franconia 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 | $145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
$530,300±$96k 59% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
$1,281±$278Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Newington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081 95% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$7,451 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and South Hampton 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 | Newington School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | South Hampton School District | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— | — |
| 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.