Compare towns
South Berwick vs Keene vs Ashland
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k 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.
| Measure | South Berwick | Keene | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
22,939Highest |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Ashland 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Ashland 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% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Keene 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% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,961 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest 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 | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.