What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).

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	Freeport
People
Population	7,670Lowest	8,802Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME	48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME
Kids under 18	26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1%	19.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	South Berwick and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	59.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	5%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Freeport 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 33% above ME	$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME
	Freeport 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 44% above ME	$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME
	Freeport 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 52% above ME	$1,439±$123Lowest 26% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Lowest 63% above ME	$5,042Highest 66% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Freeport 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 ME: 10.7%	8.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 9% above ME	24 minLowest 4% below ME
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Freeport 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	#4 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	RSU 05
High school in town	Marshwood High School	Freeport High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	12.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.