Compare towns
Plaistow vs Newington vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Plaistow | Newington | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
939Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newington and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Newington and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Newington and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Newington School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| 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.