Compare towns
Rollinsford vs Mont Vernon vs Durham 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).
Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($397k median).
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 | Mont Vernon | Durham | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,626Lowest |
2,636 |
15,080Highest |
3,381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.8±5.5 about the U.S. average |
42.9±2.8Highest 10% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.4±6.2 6% above U.S. |
| Mont Vernon 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%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mont Vernon and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rollinsford and Mont Vernon 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% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,500±$26kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$158,036±$19kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$90,972±$22k 13% above U.S. |
| Mont Vernon and Durham 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. |
$526,300±$39kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$396,700±$66kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Mont Vernon and Durham 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. |
$1,104±$185Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$9,432 202% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±26.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±80.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older 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 |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rollinsford School District | Mont Vernon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.