What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pelham	South Berwick
People
Population	14,449Highest	7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S.	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Pelham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
	South Berwick and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Pelham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pelham 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	$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S.	$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S.	$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pelham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pelham 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	#48 of 120 in NH	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	Pelham School District	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Pelham High School	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.