Compare towns
Rollinsford vs Lee vs Plainfield 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1966).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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.
| Measure | Rollinsford | Lee | Plainfield | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,626 |
4,576Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.8±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
41.4±6.2 6% above U.S. |
| Lee and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,500±$26kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22k 13% above U.S. |
| Lee and Plainfield 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. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$396,700±$66kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,809±$394Highest 28% above U.S. |
— | $1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,702±$76 20% above U.S. |
| Rollinsford and South Berwick 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. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±26.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Rollinsford 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rollinsford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 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.