What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k median).

Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

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	Hampden
People
Population	7,670Lowest	7,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME	41±2.9Highest 8% below ME
	Hampden 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 ME: 18.1%	25.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	South Berwick and Hampden 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%	17.2%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Hampden 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%Lowest ME: 36.2%	45.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8%
	Hampden 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	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME
	Hampden 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±$26kHighest 44% above ME	$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME	$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Highest 63% above ME	$3,694Lowest 22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4%	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	South Berwick and Hampden 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%	7.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 5 yrs newer than ME	1982 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 9% above ME	23 minLowest 7% below ME
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	RSU 22
High school in town	Marshwood High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Lowest	14.8Highest
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.