Compare towns
South Berwick vs Derry vs Hermon
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).
Derry has the highest household income ($109k).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
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 | Derry | Hermon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
34,116Highest |
6,727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Hermon and Derry 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% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hermon 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% 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% |
4.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Hermon 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. |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$96,629±$22kLowest 20% 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±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$333,600±$32kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,406±$202Lowest about the U.S. average |
| South Berwick and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956 59% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | #54 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hermon Public Schools |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | Pinkerton Academy | Hermon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Lowest |
13.9 |
14.6Highest |
| 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.