Compare towns
South Berwick vs Plainfield vs Webster
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 kids (26.7% under 18).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k 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 | Plainfield | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670Highest |
2,522 |
2,227Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Webster 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% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Webster 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Webster 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. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield 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. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
| South Berwick and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and South Berwick 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Plainfield School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
— | — |
| 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.