What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($428k median).

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).

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	South Berwick	Amherst
People
Population	7,670Lowest	11,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average	45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	South Berwick and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Amherst 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+	41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	South Berwick and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S.	$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S.	$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.	$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S.
	South Berwick and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.	$9,773Highest 213% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#58 of 133 in ME	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	Marshwood High School	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	10.4Lowest
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.