What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

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

Measure	Plaistow	South Berwick
People
Population	7,861Highest	7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±3.7Highest 3% above U.S.	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Plaistow and South Berwick 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%	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%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.8%±3Lowest 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%	41.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.9Highest 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.	$99,572±$13kLowest 23% 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±$32kLowest 22% above U.S.	$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S.
	South Berwick and Plaistow 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.	$1,726±$83Highest 22% 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.	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plaistow and South Berwick 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%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.6%±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	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	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.