Compare towns
South Berwick vs Plainfield vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k 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.
| Measure | South Berwick | Plainfield | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,381Highest |
2,522 |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±6.2 6% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Ashland 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%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Plainfield 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% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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 | $90,972±$22k 13% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$66k 19% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,702±$76Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| South Berwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,961 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Ashland 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.