What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.5%).

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	Cumberland
People
Population	7,670Lowest	8,647Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+17.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME	41.9±4Highest 6% below ME
	Cumberland 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 ME: 18.1%	25.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	South Berwick and Cumberland 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%	19.8%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Cumberland 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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	72.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	3.9%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	South Berwick and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,572±$13kLowest 33% above ME	$173,894±$20kHighest 133% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,300±$26kLowest 44% above ME	$616,800±$42kHighest 108% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,726±$83Lowest 52% above ME	$2,143±$759Highest 88% above ME
	Cumberland and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Lowest 63% above ME	$7,116Highest 134% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4%	47.1%±31.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	South Berwick and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 9% above ME	24 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	25.3%±7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Cumberland 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	#25 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	RSU 51/MSAD 51
High school in town	Marshwood High School	Greely High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	9.5Lowest
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.