Compare towns
South Berwick vs Durham 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670Lowest |
15,080Highest |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.7±2.9Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Berwick 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berwick 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,452±$430 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 | $4,956 59% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and South Berwick 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
12.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.