What stands out worked out from the figures below

Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).

South Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

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	Royalton	South Berwick
People
Population	2,752Lowest	7,670Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S.	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Royalton and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Royalton 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+	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Royalton 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	$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S.	$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S.
	Royalton and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S.	$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S.	$4,956Highest 59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	17.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Royalton 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	#48 of 70 in VT	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	White River Unified School District #79	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	White River Valley High School	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.7Lowest	13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.