Compare towns
South Berwick vs Keene vs Hermon
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 expensive homes ($428k median).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
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 | Hermon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
22,939Highest |
6,727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
41.1±4.7Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Hermon 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% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Hermon 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% |
20.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hermon 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% |
37.6%Lowest 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% |
4.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$96,629±$22k 20% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$333,600±$32k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,406±$202 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956 59% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below 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% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | #54 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Keene School District | Hermon Public Schools |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | Keene High School | Hermon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
12.3Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.