Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Topsham 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
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Portsmouth | Topsham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
9,706 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Topsham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Mt Ararat High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.2 |
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.