Compare towns
South Berwick vs Carmel vs Hampden
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 expensive homes ($428k median).
Carmel has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Carmel | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
2,941Lowest |
7,896Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Carmel 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 ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
16.5%±5 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Hampden and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% ME: 36.2% |
17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and South Berwick 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 33% above ME |
$82,188±$22kLowest 10% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| 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 44% above ME |
$256,800±$37kLowest 13% below ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
$1,276±$187Lowest 12% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956Highest 63% above ME |
$2,662Lowest 12% below ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest 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% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | #77 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | 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 |
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.