What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($397k median).

Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).

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	South Berwick	Bristol
People
Population	3,381Highest	3,273Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±6.2Lowest 6% above U.S.	42.7±5.7Highest 10% above U.S.
	Bristol and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bristol and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bristol 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+	47.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	South Berwick and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,972±$22kHighest 13% above U.S.	$78,438±$10kLowest about the U.S. average
	South Berwick and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,700±$66kHighest 19% above U.S.	$258,300±$63kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,702±$76Highest 20% above U.S.	$1,310±$97Lowest 7% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,523Highest 45% above U.S.	$4,162Lowest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.3%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Bristol 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%	10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	69.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Berwick and Bristol 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	#58 of 133 in ME	#79 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Newfound Area School District
High school in town	—	Newfound Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.5
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.