Compare towns
South Berwick vs Center Harbor vs Berwick
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 kids (26.7% under 18).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Center Harbor | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
955Lowest |
8,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
60.4±4.8Highest 55% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Berwick 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% |
39.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and 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 23% above U.S. |
$104,313±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor 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±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$463,800±$74kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
— | $1,452±$430Lowest about the U.S. average |
| South Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956Highest 59% above U.S. |
$4,667 50% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick 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 | — | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| 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 | 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.