What stands out worked out from the figures below

Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).

South Berwick has the most expensive 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	Poland	South Berwick
People
Population	5,954Lowest	7,670Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.2±9.4Highest about the ME average	39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME
	Poland and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
	South Berwick and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4%	15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Poland 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+	23.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	41.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8%	4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,557±$23kLowest 14% above ME	$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME
	South Berwick and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$283,600±$44kLowest 4% below ME	$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,198±$128Lowest 5% above ME	$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,774Lowest 9% below ME	$4,956Highest 63% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4%	53.5%±24.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Poland and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% above ME	27 minLowest 9% above ME
Work from home	21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9%	17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Poland 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	#81 of 133 in ME	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 16	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Poland Regional H S	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Lowest	13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.