Compare towns

South Berwick vs Hanover vs Berwick

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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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.

MeasureSouth BerwickHanoverBerwick
People
Population
7,670Lowest
11,685Highest
8,175
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
28.7±5.1Lowest
26% below U.S.
40.7±2.9Highest
5% above U.S.
Berwick 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%
14.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Berwick 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%
19.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Hanover and 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%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
36.9%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
$94,771±$24kLowest
17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
$824,900±$61kHighest
148% above U.S.
$369,100±$19kLowest
11% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,726±$83
22% above U.S.
$2,253±$217Highest
59% above U.S.
$1,452±$430Lowest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,956
59% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.5%±24.5
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±17.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±46Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover 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%
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
20 minLowest
26% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
17.6%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.2%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Hanover and 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 #1 of 120 in NH #101 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Dresden School District · Hanover School District RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town Marshwood High School Hanover High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.0Highest
10.7Lowest
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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.