Compare towns
South Berwick vs Sanbornton vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Berwick has the most renters (33% rent).
Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Sanbornton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,381Highest |
3,053 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±6.2 6% above U.S. |
41.9±5.4Highest 8% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sanbornton 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% |
18.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest 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% |
21.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sanbornton 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% |
39.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest 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±$22kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$113,750±$41k 41% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,700±$66kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$452,300±$30kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield 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. |
$1,289±$198Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above 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. |
$5,731 84% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Plainfield 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Winnisquam Regional School District | Plainfield 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.