What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

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	Keene
People
Population	7,670Lowest	22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.5Highest about the U.S. average	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.
	South Berwick and Keene 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%	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Keene 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 U.S.: 35.7%	44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S.	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S.	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.	$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Keene 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%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Berwick and Keene 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	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	Keene School District
High school in town	Marshwood High School	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	12.3Lowest
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.