Compare towns
South Berwick vs Durham vs Rollinsford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
15,080Highest |
2,626Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Highest about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
38.8±5.5 about the U.S. average |
| South Berwick and Rollinsford 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% |
17.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Rollinsford 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% |
19.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rollinsford 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% |
41.2%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% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$89,500±$26kLowest 11% 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. |
$398,100±$33kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,809±$394Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Rollinsford 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 59% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,851 120% 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% |
40%±26.1Lowest 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Rollinsford School District |
| 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.