Compare towns
South Berwick vs Hampstead vs Lebanon
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).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Hampstead | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670Lowest |
9,102 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampstead 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% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Lebanon 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Hampstead 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. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Hampstead 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. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Hampstead 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampstead School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| 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.