What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).

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	Derry
People
Population	7,670Lowest	34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average	40.3±1.6Highest 4% above U.S.
	Derry 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 U.S.: 22%	20.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	South Berwick and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	South Berwick and Derry 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 U.S.: 35.7%	37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry 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±$13kLowest 23% above U.S.	$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S.
	Derry 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±$26kLowest 29% above U.S.	$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Derry 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.	$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S.
	South Berwick and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Derry 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Berwick and Derry 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	#60 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town	Marshwood High School	Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Lowest	13.9Highest
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.