What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).

South Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

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	Pembroke	South Berwick
People
Population	7,438Lowest	7,670Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±3.3Highest 8% above U.S.	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Pembroke and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
	South Berwick and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Pembroke 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+	32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	South Berwick and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S.	$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S.
	South Berwick and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S.	$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,589Highest 143% above U.S.	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±21.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	17%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Berwick and Pembroke 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	#85 of 120 in NH	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	Pembroke School District	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Pembroke Academy	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	13.0Lowest
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.