What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).

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	Kingston
People
Population	7,670Highest	6,275Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average	55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%	13.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Kingston 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	South Berwick and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S.	$105,330±$12kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Kingston and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S.	$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S.
	Kingston and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.	$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.	$7,906Highest 153% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.9%±46.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 29% above U.S.
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Berwick and Kingston 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	#78 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	Sanborn Regional School District
High school in town	Marshwood High School	Sanborn Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	12.9Lowest
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.