What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	South Berwick	Brattleboro
People
Population	7,670Lowest	12,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average	45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S.
	Brattleboro and South Berwick 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%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	South Berwick and Brattleboro 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%	25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	South Berwick and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S.	$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S.	$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.	$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.	$5,700Highest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Brattleboro 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%	17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brattleboro 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	#33 of 70 in VT
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town	Marshwood High School	Brattleboro Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	9.0Lowest
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.