What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Danvers
People
Population	7,670Lowest	28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average	45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	South Berwick and Danvers 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 23% above U.S.	$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S.	$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S.	$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.	$6,654Highest 113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Danvers 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%	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Danvers 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	#91 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town	Marshwood High School	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	12.8Lowest
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.