Compare towns
South Berwick vs Bellows Falls vs Hampden
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 expensive homes ($428k median).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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 | Bellows Falls | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
2,891Lowest |
7,896Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±6.7Highest 6% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Bellows Falls and Hampden 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% |
22.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Hampden 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% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellows Falls and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampden and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956Highest 59% above U.S. |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Bellows Falls 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% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | — | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.