Compare towns
South Berwick vs Auburn vs Brookline
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 affordable homes ($428k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
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 | Auburn | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670Highest |
6,119 |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Berwick and Auburn 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% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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. |
$153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Auburn 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. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Auburn School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
— | — |
| 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.