What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

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	Hampton
People
Population	7,670Lowest	16,426Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	South Berwick and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S.	$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S.
	South Berwick and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S.	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.	$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S.
	South Berwick and Hampton 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.	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton 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%	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton 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	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Marshwood High School	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.