Compare towns
South Berwick vs Kennebunk vs South Berwick vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Berwick has the youngest population (median age 39).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
South Berwick has the most renters (33% rent).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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 | Kennebunk | South Berwick | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,670 |
11,820Highest |
3,381Lowest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest 13% below ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
41.4±6.2 8% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| South Berwick and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
30%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.6%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
47.2% ME: 36.2% |
45.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13k 33% above ME |
$107,804±$8k 44% above ME |
$90,972±$22kLowest 22% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Hampden and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26k 44% above ME |
$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME |
$396,700±$66k 34% above ME |
$301,300±$38kLowest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME |
$1,425±$290 25% above ME |
$1,702±$76 49% above ME |
$1,286±$317Lowest 13% above ME |
| South Berwick and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956 63% above ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$4,523 49% above ME |
$3,694Lowest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±30.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| South Berwick 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 ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3% ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
67%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
29 minHighest 19% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.9%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk and Hampden 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 21 | — | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | Kennebunk High School | — | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
11.6Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.