Compare towns
Rollinsford vs Durham vs Holderness 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
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Rollinsford | Durham | Holderness | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,626 |
15,080Highest |
1,917Lowest |
3,381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.8±5.5 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
41.4±6.2Highest 6% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,500±$26kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$107,863±$45k 34% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22k 13% above U.S. |
| Durham and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,100±$33k 20% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$396,700±$66k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,809±$394 28% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,702±$76 20% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,851 120% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,523 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±26.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rollinsford and Durham 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 | #94 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rollinsford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Holderness School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.