What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bristol 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.

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

Measure	South Berwick	Bristol
People
Population	7,670Highest	3,273Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average	42.7±5.7Highest 10% above U.S.
	Bristol 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%	24.3%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	South Berwick and Bristol 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%	23.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bristol 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	South Berwick and Bristol 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.	$78,438±$10kLowest about the U.S. average
	South Berwick and Bristol 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.	$258,300±$63kLowest 22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.	$1,310±$97Lowest 7% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Highest 59% above U.S.	$4,162Lowest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.3%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Bristol 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%	10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.8%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Berwick and Bristol 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	#79 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	Newfound Area School District
High school in town	Marshwood High School	Newfound Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	11.5Lowest
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.