Compare towns
South Berwick vs Carmel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Berwick has the most people working from home (17.6%).
Carmel 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.
| Measure | South Berwick | Carmel |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 7,670Highest |
2,941Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
16.5%±5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Carmel 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 ME: 36.2% |
17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| South Berwick and Carmel 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 33% above ME |
$82,188±$22kLowest 10% above ME |
| South Berwick and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME |
$256,800±$37kLowest 13% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
$1,276±$187Lowest 12% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$2,662Lowest 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 133 in ME | #77 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 87/MSAD 23 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.

