Compare towns
South Berwick vs Lyme vs Hampden
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 youngest population (median age 39).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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 | Lyme | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670 |
1,710Lowest |
7,896Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Hampden 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% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956 59% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Lyme 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lyme School District | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.