What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has the highest household income ($108k).

South Berwick has the most renters (33% rent).

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	Plaistow	South Berwick
People
Population	7,861Highest	3,381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.	41.4±6.2Highest 6% above U.S.
	South Berwick and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.7%±5.4Highest 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%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plaistow 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+	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	South Berwick and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S.	$90,972±$22kLowest 13% above U.S.
	Plaistow and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S.	$396,700±$66kLowest 19% above U.S.
	Plaistow and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Lowest 18% above U.S.	$1,702±$76Highest 20% above U.S.
	South Berwick and Plaistow 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.	$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±9.8Highest 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	—
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
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.